Saffron-cowled Blackbird

This huge, macabre-looking stork has a massive dagger-like bill and naked pink head and neck that appear severely sunburned. A white ruff and loose inflatable skin on the neck add to its odd appearance. It soars effortlessly at great heights searching for food; note its white belly in flight. Marabous are equally content in wetlands or in dry bush; they are most frequently encountered lurking near carrion, as they attend kills of major predators and will opportunistically snatch scraps. They also readily scavenge around humans and waste dumps.

Commonest large hawk in many areas, often seen soaring. Favors woodland and forest edge, farmland with hedges; locally in towns with larger trees and wooded parks. Also hunts over open country, especially moorland and rough grassland. Mainly seen as singles or pairs, circling over fields and woodlands with wings slightly raised. Rather stocky hawk with broad wings and fairly short, square-tipped tail (rounded when spread). Plumage variable but typically has paler breast band, fine dark tail barring (broad dark tail tip on adult).

Endemic to the islands of Corsica and Sardinia where it occurs in open lowland scrub to montane dry scrub and open to semiopen coniferous forests. A small finch with a bright yellow face and breast and a brown streaky back. Males brighter than females. Song is a jumbled twitter and calls include various tittering and whistled calls; all fairly similar to Citril Finch calls, but ranges do not overlap.