Mystery Bird: Mocking Cliff-Chat, Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris

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[Mystery bird] Mocking Cliff-Chat, Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris, photographed near Lake Manyara, a shallow alkaline lake in Tanzania, Africa. Lake Manyara was described as the "loveliest [lake] ... in Africa," in Ernest Hemingway's 1953 nonfiction book, Green Hills of Africa. it is also the home of a diverse set of landscapes and wildlife. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]

Image: Dan Logen, 9 August 2006 [larger view].

Nikon D2X camera, Lens was the Nikon 200-400 VR Lens at 400 mm. ISO was 250 1/60 sec, f/8.

Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.

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tags: conservation, endangered species,
Family Guy, S07E02 'I Dream of Jesus': Peter: Brian, can I see that paper for a sec? (Brian gives Peter the paper. Peter peruses the paper.) Peter: Huh... that's odd... I thought that would big news.

Cliff chat. Black head, breast, wings; rufous belly; white shoulder patch.

Hildebrandt's starling has same black and rufous pattern, but has red eye and no shoulder patch.

By lectric lady (not verified) on 03 Aug 2009 #permalink

Mocking Cliff Chat Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris: Black and red pattern, white shoulder patch, white between black chest and chestnut belly. It is the only cliff-chat found in Tanzania.

I concur--Mocking Cliff Chat--back and chest coloring, white shoulder patch Very pretty bird!