BAMENDA, CAMEROON — Today, sunbirds gleamed and mousebirds skulked. Light rain didn’t much hamper their activities, or mine as I watched the birds. I’ve found a few minutes to bird nearly every day, despite working long hours. Now that I’m back to an internet connection, I’ll try to relate some of the highlights. For now, here are some video clips of birds I saw in the yard today:

 

The African Blue-Flycatcher (Elminia longicauda) is a gorgeous bird of uncertain affinity. In this clip, you can hear a snatch of its song.

 

Common Bulbuls (Pycnonotus barbatus) are ubiquitous here. They aren’t very colorful, but they have a cheerful song that reminds me of the South Pacific’s Willie-wagtail. In this clip, you only get to hear a call note, though.

 

I really enjoy watching the Speckled Mousebirds (Colius striatus). They are oddly shaped birds: small heads, round bodies, and very long, stiff tails. They climb around in vegetation, often difficult to see. When they fly, they alternate stiff, rapid flaps with longer glides.

 

Red-cheeked Cordon-bleus (Uraeginthus bengalis) are estrildid finches. They are like little bits of sky that have fallen to the ground.

 

Black-crowned Waxbills (Estrilda nonnula) join cordon-bleus, mannikins, and munias in the family Estrildidae. In the video clip, listen carefully for this bird’s thin, high-pitched call.

Trackback This Post | Subscribe to the comments through RSS Feed