A light turquoise kingfisher with a pale grey face and underside, black patches at the tips of its wings, along its shoulder, and through its eye, grey feet, and a bright red and dark grey bill perches on a branch, surrounded by leaves, against a muted green backgroundALT

May 18, 2023 - Woodland Kingfisher (Halcyon senegalensis)

These kingfishers live in wooded areas, especially riverine forests, open woodland, and gardens in parts of central and southern Africa. They eat mainly insects and other arthropods, including scorpions, as well as fish, crustaceans, lizards, small birds and mammals, and other small vertebrates, dropping onto prey from a perch. Their nests are usually in tree cavities, often made by other birds, but sometimes in buildings, nest boxes, arboreal termite nests, or swift nests. Both parents incubate the eggs during the day, though only females incubate at night and both feed the chicks.

A pale blue bird with lighter blue cheeks and chest, a white underside, and grey legs perches on a diagonal branch between clumps of large leaves against a light green backgroundALT

May 17, 2023 - Pale-blue Monarch (Hypothymis puella)

These monarchs are found in a variety of wooded habitats in parts of Indonesia. Foraging alone, in pairs, and sometimes in family groups, they catch a variety of insects in the air or in foliage. Probably breeding from June to September, they build cup-shaped nests from twigs covered with spider webs and egg cases, lined with fibers and other fine materials.

A brown sparrow with dark brown and tan patterning on its wings, a grey head, brown crown, white eyebrow patch and throat, black lines through its eye and along its cheek, blue and grey bill, and pink legs perches on a branch, surrounded by leafy branches against a light green backgroundALT

May 16, 2023 - Rusty Sparrow (Aimophila rufescens)

Found from Mexico south to Costa Rica, these sparrows live in various scrubby habitats including brushy woodlands, the edges of forests, and overgrown clearings. Foraging mostly on the ground alone or in pairs, they are thought to eat seeds and small invertebrates, though the details of their diet are not known. While not much is known about their breeding behavior, they likely build grass nests on the ground or in shrubs and lay clutches of two or three eggs.

A black bird with a long forked tail, bright red eyes, and dark grey bill and legs perches on a branch between two branches with oval leaves, against a light green backgroundALT

May 15, 2023 - Glossy-backed Drongo (Dicrurus divaricatus)

Found in parts of central Africa, these drongos live in a variety of wooded habitats, including savannas and open woodlands, but not dense forests. Their diet is primarily large insects, but also sometimes includes small birds and fish and occasionally nectar. Though they usually hunt in short flights from a perch, they also forage on the ground, steal food from other birds, often by making false alarm calls, and follow ants, other birds, and large animals to capture fleeing insects. They build saucer-shaped nests from plant stems, lichen, rootlets, tendrils, spiderwebs, and other materials. Both parents feed the chicks and aggressively defend the nest from predators.

A swallow with a white throat, underside, and patch above its eye, black wings and tail, dark blue-green head and shoulders, and dark grey bill and feet perches on a branch against a light blue backgroundALT

May 14, 2023 - Mangrove Swallow (Tachycineta albilinea)

These swallows are found along the coasts of Mexico and Central America in mangrove forests and other areas near water, including marshes, lakes, ponds, and rivers. They feed on flying insects, capturing them in the air while skimming over the water. Their nests are built from grass, stems, moss, and feathers in cavities in trees, dead trunks, partially submerged branches, and sometimes artificial structures. Both parents care for the chicks.

A bird with a bright red head, brown and yellow wings and tail, pale grey underside, orange bill, and pink legs perches on a branch between two leafy branches with tiny oval leaves against a light blue backgroundALT

May 13, 2023 - Red-headed Weaver (Anaplectes rubriceps)

These weavers are found in a variety of wooded habitats across central and southern Africa. Their diet is mostly made up of insects and their larvae, as well as spiders, seeds, fruit, and berries. Males, sometimes assisted by females or immature males, build woven nests from pliable twigs which they strip of leaves and break off of trees. The nests appear messy but are thick-walled and sturdy teardrop shapes with tunnel entrances. Females incubate the eggs assisted by males and both parents feed the chicks.

A hummingbird with an iridescent green head and upper back, brown body and tail, dark brown wings, light grey chin and thigh, and black bill and feet perches on a branch between leafy branches against a light green backgroundALT

May 12, 2023 - Berylline Hummingbird (Saucerottia beryllina)

These hummingbirds are found in western and southern Mexico, parts of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, and rarely in parts of the southwestern United States. They feed on nectar as well as some insects, catching them in the air or plucking them from spiderwebs. Females build compact cup-shaped nests from grass, moss, plant fibers, spiderwebs, and lichen. They incubate the eggs and feed the chicks alone.

A bird with a reddish brown head, pale tan face and chest, light grey back and lighter grey underside, brown wings, grey and white tail with large black spots, black bill, and pink legs perches on a branch with its tail held vertically, surrounded by oval leaves, against a light green backgroundALT

May 11, 2023 - Singing Cisticola (Cisticola cantans)

These cisticolas are found in undergrowth along the edges of forests and in savannas near rivers across parts of central and eastern Africa. Foraging alone, in pairs, or in family groups on or near the ground, they eat small invertebrates, including beetles, moths, ants, and spiders. They build ball or oval-shaped nests from dry grass, spiderweb, and plant down in pouches they create from one or more live leaves sewn together with spiderwebs or plant fibers. Females lay clutches of two to four eggs and incubate them alone, but both parents feed the chicks.

A grey bird with a black head and tail, black, tan, and dark grey wings, white eyebrow, throat, and belly patches, a black chest patch, blue-grey and dark grey bill, and light brown legs perches on a branch surrounded by oval leaves, against a light blue backgroundALT

May 10, 2023 - Collared Warbling Finch (Poospiza hispaniolensis)

Found in southwestern Ecuador and western Peru, these birds in the tanager family live in desert scrub, often near water, and in some agricultural areas. They eat invertebrates, foraging in low trees and near or on the ground, usually in pairs. Little is known about their breeding behavior, though they may lay clutches of three or four eggs between mid-February and mid-May.

A bird with black and iridescent dark green wings, a black head and tail, bright orange crown, grey throat, yellow underside, and dark grey bill and legs perches on a branch between clumps of large leaves, against a green backgroundALT

May 9, 2023 - Flame-crowned Flowerpecker (Dicaeum anthonyi)

Found in the Philippines, these flowerpeckers live in and around mossy forests. Foraging alone or in pairs, they likely eat fruit, pollen, and nectar, though the details of their diet are unknown. They may also join mixed-species flocks. Very little is known about their breeding behavior, though they might breed during April and May.

A yellow bird with darker yellow wings and tail, light yellow face and chest, a light grey underside, a white ring around its eye, black line from its eye to its grey bill, and blue-grey legs perches on a branch, surrounded by leaves, against a pale green backgroundALT

May 8, 2023 - Small Lifou White-eye (Zosterops minutus)

Found on the island of Lifou in the Loyalty Islands of New Caledonia, these white-eyes inhabit forest edges, shrubs, villages, and gardens. They feed on insects, especially ants, as well as seeds and fruit, foraging in flocks. Their nests have not been studied in detail but are thought to be similar to those of other species in their genus, open cups hung between forked twigs or branches. Females lay clutches of two to four eggs and pairs probably raise several broods a year.

A light tan bird with dark brown streaks and spots, a bright yellow face, chest, and underside, a black line bordering its throat, a blue-grey bill, and light pink feet with elongated back toenails stands on the ground among tufts of green and tan grass with one foot raised, against a light blue backgroundALT

May 7, 2023 - Pangani Longclaw (Macronyx aurantiigula)

Found in parts of Somalia, Kenya, and Tanzania, these longclaws live in grasslands and light woodland. They feed on insects, including beetles, grasshoppers, and termites, as well as spiders and snails, foraging mostly on the ground alone, in pairs, or in trios. Females build cup-shaped nests from dry grass, fine rootlets, and fibers on the ground in dense grass or in tussocks, while males accompany them. They lay clutches of two to four eggs and probably incubate them alone. Both parents feed the chicks.