Namibia - Ohangwena Region (basically Angola) Assorted Birds of Varying Difficulties (1 Viewer)

[Jacob12]

I'd appreciate any assistance and confirmations on these. All taken this week in the far northern region of Ohangwena in a rural village setting.

[1-2] Common House Martin?: I think the white belly and white rump seal the deal here, but I'm not great at distinguishing swallows. There were two flying together in the morning-quite lazy, slow flying.

[3] Sunbird sp.: None of the photos in my app show a bird that dark with such a bold eyestripe. A male White-Bellied was also seen, but I'm pretty sure this is different.

[4-5] Icterine Warbler: This is a very yellow bird. At first glance, I mistook for a female weaver. However, the behavior was warbler-esqe. The bird was not reclusive, but rather was quite acrobatic around the outer branches of the bush. I think ICWA for the yellow wash and the white wing panels.

[6]. Probably not identifiable, but I thought I'd throw it up here just in case. Wattled Starling is as close as I can get...

 

[Jacob12]

Whoops, one of the warbler images didn't make it in the original message

 

[Butty]

6 (ie the last one of the main group, flying). Presumably groundscraper thrush.

 

[Jacob12]

Presumably groundscraper thrush.

I must admit, I have a hard time making this into a groundscraper. Maybe a kurrichane? But with this quality photo, it could be almost anything in that 20cm size range

 

[Andy Adcock]

1 and two look like Rock Martins?
3 Amethyst Sunbird?
4 Sombre Greenbul?

 

[Andy Adcock]

I must admit, I have a hard time making this into a groundscraper. Maybe a kurrichane? But with this quality photo, it could be almost anything in that 20cm size range

Groundscraper for me too, the last bird looks like a Willow Warbler?

 

[Jacob12]

1 and two look like Rock Martins?

Here's some additional photos of the martins. No tail spots and clearly demarcated line between the belly (white) and the top (blue/black)

 

[Jacob12]

Groundscraper for me too

What is pointing you in this direction? I would expect to see at least something resembling bold streaks on the belly even in such a poor quality photo?

 

[Jacob12]

the last bird looks like a Willow Warbler?

I initially ruled out Willow because of the slate-coloured legs, but I'm not sure how consistent leg colour is as a diagnostic.

 

[Larry Sweetland]

How about Dusky Lark for the "flying thrush"? Probably way off!

 

[Andy Adcock]

What is pointing you in this direction? I would expect to see at least something resembling bold streaks on the belly even in such a poor quality photo?

face pattern, much too bold and extensive for Kurrichane.

We only saw Kurrichane in the Caprivi but we did see Groundscraper, commonly on the Angola border in the Kunene.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Here's some additional photos of the martins. No tail spots and clearly demarcated line between the belly (white) and the top (blue/black)

Sand Martin then?

 

[Jacob12]

Sand Martin then?

That does look better than common house martin. Let's see if anyone else will get on board with it. The reason I ruled it out initially was the white rump (see pic 2), but it's possible that's a lighting trick.

 

[Jacob12]

RE: The Warbler: I was reading more in Chamberlain's LBJs and they say that the Icterine doesn't have a notched tail and no white....so, this is not encouraging. But Willow, the only other real option I see, doesn't have slate-colored legs...

 

[Welsh Peregrine]

It looks far better for Icterine than Willow, but are there other options? African Yellow Warbler?

 

[Jacob12]

Thanks, I'm wondering if the tail might be due to molting feathers. African Yellow would be fairly out of range here, and the bill look a little small for this bird.

 

[Andy Adcock]

It looks far better for Icterine than Willow, but are there other options? African Yellow Warbler?

Agree

 

[njlarsen]

I am not sure if this one could be possible on range, but could the second image be a grey-rumped swallow with broken tail streamers?

Niels

 

[RafaelMatias]

For some reason I'm not being able to open the full images (possible related to my PC), but in the first group the bird suggested by Andy to be Sombre Greenbul (#4) is the same bird as on the following post (post #2, discussed as being a warbler). I just cannot see the larger images, not allowing me to say much more here.

 

[Jacob12]

Yes, same bird