Yellow-rumped Marshbird

A small heron that is common in most aquatic habitats across the Indian subcontinent. Adults in breeding plumage have a dark reddish brown back that contrasts with a yellowish head, neck, and breast. In nonbreeding plumage they are virtually indistinguishable from nonbreeding Chinese Pond-Heron. In flight, adults appear surprisingly white due to their strikingly white wings, underparts, and tail. Although typically solitary, large numbers often gather where food is plentiful. Prone to seasonally local movements and vagrancy.

Very small owl of the upper subtropics and temperate forest. Typical pygmy-owl plumage: mostly brown or rufous above, white below with messy brown stripes, and small whitish spots on crown. Sexes similar. Found at higher elevations than other pygmy-owls, mostly from 2,500–3,500 m. Usually seen in the daytime perched at middle or upper levels of forest, often being mobbed by hummingbirds or small passerines. Typically detected by song, which can be given at any time of day but mainly early and late: a series of whistled toots, sometimes with a few quavering notes at the beginning.

Nest parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of Red-billed and Brown firefinches. Breeding males are glossy black, while females and non-breeding males are streaky and brown on the back and pale below, with a bold facial pattern. The color of the bill is red in southeast Africa and whitish in western, northern, and central Africa. Found in savanna, scrub, farmland, and towns. Mimics the vocalizations of its host firefinches: low rattling series and high-pitched whistled notes. In southeast Africa, can be separated from other indigobirds by its red bill. Very similar to other indigobirds elsewhere on the continent. Breeding males can be separated by their all-black wings that lack a pale brownish panel. The mimicked vocalizations of its host species can also help confirm identification. In non-breeding plumage, similar to non-breeding Pin-tailed Whydah but separated by red legs.