Painted Bush-Quail

Flashy, rather large hummingbird of humid tropical lowlands. Favors forest edges, adjacent clearings with scattered trees and flowering bushes, and gardens. Feeds at all levels, but often in the canopy, hovering with its tail cocked and frequently flashed open to show extensive white. Note the gleaming snow-white underparts, brilliant emerald-green upperparts, and flashy white outer tail feathers. Bill is medium-length, black, and sharply pointed (often pierces flower bases to get nectar). Sexes similar overall, but female lacks purple crown of male, which can be hard to see, and has a longer tail.

Male is a striking, heavy-billed black-and-white bird, all black above except for a large white rump, with underparts entirely white but for the dark tail. Female is similar, but gray instead of black, and has a gray throat. Juvenile resembles female but browner, with scattered white feather edgings. Pairs and singles inhabit canopy of lowland forest and forest edge. Female similar to White-rumped Cuckooshrike, but has dark eyes, is darker gray, and occupies different habitat. Gives a resonant “chew-chew-chew-chew” song as well as quieter rasping notes.

A nest parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of Rock Firefinches. Breeding males are black with green iridescence and a pale brownish panel in the wings. Females and non-breeding males are streaky and brown on the back and pale below, with a bold facial pattern. The bill is whitish and the legs pale purple. A scarce, local, and poorly known species. Found in rocky areas within savanna. Given current knowledge, can only be confidently identified by vocalizations. Imitates the vocalizations of its host, Rock Firefinch, including soft “teew” whistles, a descending trill, “tep” notes, and “pit-pit-pit” calls. These are often mixed into a scratchy jumble of high-pitched notes.