Indian Bushlark

A fairly large, colorful swallow. Usually easy to identify with its long, forked tail and dark rump. Iridescent navy-blue above with a rich orange throat and forehead. Underparts vary across range, from bright buffy-orange to whitish. Occurs in any open habitat, especially large fields and wetlands. Often seen foraging in flocks, sometimes mixed with other species of swallow. Typically nests close to human habitation; builds a muddy cup nest in a barn or under a dock. Listen for dry, scratchy “svit svit” calls. Note head and breast pattern and tail length to help separate from various similar species in Africa, Asia, and Australia (e.g., Welcome Swallow, Angolan Swallow, Pacific Swallow).

A small, upright honeyguide of forest and forest edge, where it forages for insects and flycatches into the open. Plumage is a relatively uniform olive-green to green, with a paler throat, small pale eye arcs, and bright white outer tail feathers that are obvious when flying out for insects. Similar to Green-backed Honeyguide and Wahlberg’s Honeyguide, but differs in range, in its overall greenish coloration including the belly, and in its clean white outer tail feathers. Voice is little known, but apparently gives a buzzy trill in flight that rises and falls in pitch. 

A pale-headed raptor of inland marshes and lakes. Tends to be uncommon and thinly distributed throughout its range. Adult is dark brown above with a paler belly and dirty-gray head. When in flight from below, a broad white band on the dark tail is the most eye-catching feature. Juveniles have an all-dark tail, but have two bright white panels on the undersides of the wingtips; this patterning can be similar to that of some kites, but the fish-eagle is much larger, with a longer-winged and comparatively shorter-tailed profile.