red-crowned malimbe Malimbus coronatus

Adult female is an all glossy black forest weaver; adult male is similar but with a red oval patch on the crown that is not always easily seen. Juvenile is matte black with a chestnut crown. Scarce and patchily distributed, preferring the canopy of tall primary and secondary lowland and swamp forest. Often found in pairs. Vocalizations include a complex medley of weaver-like chittering “che-chur-chet” and electrical buzzing “dzrrrrrrr” and high-pitched downslurred “teooot-teoot” notes. Female cannot be safely separated from Black-throated Malimbe unless male is present.