cling

a speckled mousebird clings to a branch, their back to the camera and their head turned slightly over their shoulder to look at the viewer. the speckled mousebird is grayish-brown with a dramatic long tail and a lovely crest. their tummy is pale yellow-brown and their cheeks are gray, speckled with black. the sky is steely gray behind.

(Off-camera to the left: drama ensues as a Hyena arrives to see if she can snuffle off a Leopard‘s kill. The Leopard’s child runs off to hide, the Leopard jumps up into the tree with her Impala carcass. I turn around to look at birds to diffuse my stress. The Hyena is unsuccessful.)

Speckled Mousebird photographed in Maasai Mara National Reserve, November 2, 2022.