White-backed Mousebird

Medium-sized open country flycatcher of Chaco woodland and flooded grasslands in N Argentina, W Paraguay, and SE Bolivia. Male from other Knipolegus by, in male, all dark wingsand grayish (as opposed to deep black) plumage. Female told from other female Knipolegus by dull, indistinct streaks on underparts, brown cap, rufous rump, and dull reddish iris. Prefers exposed perches in open thorn forest, roadsides, agricultural lands, and towns.

A handsome apalis of forest and forest edge that is often found singly or in pairs. White underparts are bisected by a neat black chest band that is more noticeable in males than in females. Upperparts are yellow-green with a dark black cap and sides of head. Tail often held slightly cocked. Persistent song is a trill of varying length, often given as a duet with another bird doing shorter trills or repeated “tik tik tik” calls.

Chunky, cryptic, short-legged, long-billed shorebird. In flight, shows much white on the outer tail and underwing. Found in thickly vegetated wetlands. Restricted to middle and high elevations across the majority of its range. Most often seen when it flushes explosively, often giving a rough “shrik” call. Display vocalization is a long accelerating series of “kik” notes, followed by a hollow booming made by the outer tail in flight display. Similar to Common Snipe, but darker and with much white in the outer tail. Also easily confused with the uncommon Great Snipe, but African is paler, lacks strong bars on the wing, and has a white rather than dark underwing.