Derbyan Parakeet

A striking little bird, shaped like a robust gnatcatcher. Note the bold black-and-buff head pattern, black chest fading to rufous flanks, and bright rufous on the wings. Tail is long and narrow. Unmistakable if seen well, but compare with Marañon Crescentchest, which has silvery wing edges and more richly-colored underparts. Secretive; singles or pairs skulk in dense thickets and understory of dry woodland and second growth, up to 2,300 m. More often detected by song; listen for a series of loud, popping chip notes.

Set apart from other barwings in its range by its pure white belly and an orangish wash over the front of the face. Like other barwings, it forages in pairs and small flocks, sometimes with other species. Gives a range of different calls, with its most distinctive one being a three-note whistle in which the third note is considerably lower than the first two.

Huge cuckoo that is black above and white below. Immature has white barring across its upperparts. Looks raptor-like in powerful, swooping flight. Uncommon bird of rainforest, gallery forest, and moist woodland, especially miombo. Call is a loud, repeated “wheet-it”, often given in a high display flight. Adult is separated from Great Spotted, Levaillant’s, and Pied cuckoos by its lack of a crest or white in the wing. Immature is similar to Great Spotted Cuckoo, but has black-and-white speckles on the head, and lacks a crest.