Trip to Kenya (1 Viewer)

[BlueJay100]

About a year ago (July 2022) I went on a safari in Kenya and I have a couple un-id'd birds left. The first was seen in Nairobi National Park. The second was seen near Amboseli and the 3rd was seen further west towards Narok. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Butty]

1. White-browed sparrow-weaver. I expect.

 

[Waxwings]

2. Looks like Orange-breasted Bush Shrike.

 

[THE_FERN]

Suggest 3 could be croaking cisticola

 

[MacNara]

Suggest 3 could be croaking cisticola

It's difficult to tell from this one photo, since various ID pointers are not clearly visible. But to me it doesn't look 'chunky' enough for Croaking, and the bill not sufficiently decurved and thick. I would have gone for Zitting (which I think is not always as dark as in 'Birds of East Africa') or Desert.

What are the pointers to Croaking as opposed to Zitting/Desert?

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

It's difficult to tell from this one photo, since various ID pointers are not clearly visible. But to me it doesn't look 'chunky' enough for Croaking, and the bill not sufficiently decurved and thick. I would have gone for Zitting (which I think is not always as dark as in 'Birds of East Africa') or Desert.

What are the pointers to Croaking as opposed to Zitting/Desert?

I totally agree with that

 

[THE_FERN]

MacNara said:
It's difficult to tell from this one photo, since various ID pointers are not clearly visible. But to me it doesn't look 'chunky' enough for Croaking, and the bill not sufficiently decurved and thick. I would have gone for Zitting (which I think is not always as dark as in 'Birds of East Africa') or Desert.

What are the pointers to Croaking as opposed to Zitting/Desert?

What are the pointers to Croaking as opposed to Zitting/Desert?

I totally agree with that

Well it didn't chime with zitting on first glance. I see that as a more gracile bird whereas this gave me a robust feel. The only desert cisticolas I've seen were much paler than this, and again more gracile. But happy to be wrong...

 

[MacNara]

Here are a couple of photos of one Zitting Cisticola from near my house in Japan. And the third photo is the OP's bird slightly adjusted.

Warning: Zitting is the only (I think) widespread Cisticola - I've seen them in Africa, Japan, Australia - and in previous discussions on BF African specialists have said that my Japanese birds don't look right for their African birds. So treat with care.

Anyway, I hope you can see from these why I think BlueJay100's bird might be Zitting (and I don't know how to differentiate Desert, but guides (i.e. physical African humans, not books) have said to me that Desert is really pale).

The Fern: I thought this bird gave a gracile not robust vibe. I'm also 'happy to be wrong...' so maybe someone else will chip in. To repeat, with only this one photo, it may not be possible.

 

[THE_FERN]

Here are a couple of photos of one Zitting Cisticola from near my house in Japan. And the third photo is the OP's bird slightly adjusted.

Warning: Zitting is the only (I think) widespread Cisticola - I've seen them in Africa, Japan, Australia - and in previous discussions on BF African specialists have said that my Japanese birds don't look right for their African birds. So treat with care.

Anyway, I hope you can see from these why I think BlueJay100's bird might be Zitting (and I don't know how to differentiate Desert, but guides (i.e. physical African humans, not books) have said to me that Desert is really pale).

The Fern: I thought this bird gave a gracile not robust vibe. I'm also 'happy to be wrong...' so maybe someone else will chip in. To repeat, with only this one photo, it may not be possible.

View attachment 1522843View attachment 1522844View attachment 1522846

Just been seeing Zitting in SE Asia. And yes African birds can make you think "is it really the same as the zitting elsewhere?" [Golden-headed is fairly widespread but not as widespread].

When I offered Croaking I was looking at Fanshawe. Photos show it's not that. But I'm not convinced it's zitting either. Do we think there are other options (i.e. if not desert) ?

 

[Andy Adcock]

Just been seeing Zitting in SE Asia. And yes African birds can make you think "is it really the same as the zitting elsewhere?" [Golden-headed is fairly widespread but not as widespread].

When I offered Croaking I was looking at Fanshawe. Photos show it's not that. But I'm not convinced it's zitting either. Do we think there are other options (i.e. if not desert) ?

Doesn't look like the Zitting that I see in Cyprus every day.

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

We have clearly 3 groups of Zitting Cisticola, potentially 3 distinct species, roughly the Palearctic, Asian and Sub-saharan ones. They have different calls and they don't look alike.

The greyish and streaked uppertail coverts don't look right for Zitting C., typically rufous-rumped in Africa.

Quickly checking online, I found this list of cisticolas in Nairobi NP.
Red-faced Cisticola
Singing Cisticola
Rattling Cisticola
Winding Cisticola
Stout Cisticola
Croaking Cisticola
Siffling Cisticola
Tiny Cisticola
Zitting Cisticola
Desert Cisticola
Pectoral-patch Cisticola
Wing-snapping Cisticola

Do we agreee it is a small, streak-backed cisticola ? In this case, we can narrow the list to this.

Winding Cisticola
Siffling Cisticola
Tiny Cisticola
Zitting Cisticola
Desert Cisticola
Pectoral-patch Cisticola
Wing-snapping Cisticola

There's no rufous on head nor on the wings, this is excluding Winding Cisticola, Siffling Cisticola and Tiny Cisticolas

I thinks uppertails exclude Zitting ; Wing-snapping is totally different IMO... remain

Desert Cisticola
Pectoral-patch Cisticola

Did I miss something ?

EDIT : I know see I mixed the places... Narok. Not sure many species should be added, except Ashy Cisticola, may be ?

 

[Brian J Small]

Re second image: I struggle to see this as Orange/Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike. The structure is wrong, notably the short squared-off tail, and the head pattern seems wrong.

Having said that, my first thought was weaver sp., but I can't actually think of one that would have the orange upper breast...

edit: poss non-br male Chestnut Weaver? - ML345127461 Chestnut Weaver Macaulay Library