This is the results of challenge #16 of 2012. The theme was close-ups. Quite amazing to see a bird in your hand; one immediately start to notice detail you never see in pix of book illustrations! This challenge returned an average score of only 74.6%, more like the level of difficulty you guys are used to.
The results are as follows:
We had 18 ‘mites participating.
Two ‘mites scored 4
four scored 5
six scored 6
five scored 7
only one got all IDs correct.
#1 – Southern Black Flycatcher
[9] .
Ladybirder wrote:
I have seen that some of these do have a white wash on the shoulder and chest, while the Southern Black Tit's more prominent white. The bill is that of a flycatcher. 
#2 – Yellow-bellied greenbul
[17] . Didn’t cause any problems although getting a feel for size may have been difficult.
#3 – Bennett's Woodpecker, female
[17] . No problems here.
#4 – Livingstone's Turaco
[17] . Although most ‘mites got this one right, quite a few were surprised when they saw three options in the ID resources.
davejenny wrote:
Having seen Schalow's Turaco in Kenya ruled it out as their crest is so much longer. Roberts states that Livingstone's Turaco is very similar to Knysna Lourie, but with crest tall and pointed. 
#5 – Southern grey-headed sparrow. Actually only
[5] ‘mites got this one right, I gave all who chose a grey-headed sparrow a mark.
[11] . I have looked at many different resources and, as I personally have not yet seen this bird, I could not find any resource that gave definitive ID features that can be used for a head shot only. Some resources do suggest that the Northern GHS supposedly has a heavier bill, but I cannot see much of a difference. However, other species like juvenile whydas, magpies, waxbills and mousebirds can certainly be eliminated for the bill on the challenge bird lacks any features of a young bird; no gape and shows lots of wear and tear.
#6 – Southern Masked-weaver
[16] . Only confusion can be with Village weaver. I wanted to show the difference in the front on the crown.
Mutorashanga sums that feature up nicely:
The black mask extends onto the crown, low around the forehead, and at the base where the yellow feathers join the black mask, the feathers are orange-red. These features are missing from the Village. 
#7 – Common Fiscal Shrike, juvenile
[6] . Lesser Grey Shrike has darker brown with more pronounced barring (not so fine as in Common fiscal); red-backed shrike juveniles are reddish-brown very early on.
#8 – Red-throated Wryneck
[14] . If you have never seen a wryneck up close, some of these features will be alien to fit into the illustrations one finds in the guidebooks. That eye REALLY is orange-brown, same colour as the throat!
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my last TR 
... well, I struggled with one, and think I was "tricked" by the other 
Much better than last time's 0! 
