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Archive for the ‘Birding’ Category

Bird of the week – Week 10 : White-tailed shrike

March 7th, 2010 |

Author: Rob |

Posted in Bird of the week, Birding |

The white tailed shrike is one of the most easily recognized shrikes in the Southern African region. Looking a bit like an overgrown batis in its black, white and grey plumage, it gives the impression that its head is too big for its short-tailed body and long legs. It is a fairly small passerine, just 15 cm in length.

It is a near endemic to Namibia, found from a little south of Windhoek northwards into south west Angola. Throughout this region it is a common resident in areas of scrubby savanna and thornbush. It is usually found in pairs or small groups of around 12 birds. They forage in trees, gleaning insects from branches and foliage, and also in bushes and on the ground. They are active and restless, continuously on the move.

It is a noisy species, with a variety of far-carrying whistles and ringing calls from the males that are often answered by the females. Sexes are alike in plumage and the female is a little larger than the male. They are monogamous and the nest is a cup usually placed in a shrub or small tree. The female lays 2 to 3 eggs in the clutch that hatch after an incubation period of about 15 days. They have a life expectancy of around 16 years.

The scientific name for the White-tailed shrike is Lanioturdus torquatus; lanioturdus

from the Latin “lanius” , a butcher or executioner (hence a shrike) and “turdus”, a thrush; torquatus being the Latin for collared. Thus it is a collared bird that looks like a shrike and also looks like a thrush. Now that’s a good name!

(Jane says: I think it looks like its wearing a little grey waistcoat and a black bow-tie!)

Tags: Lanioturdus torquatus, lanius, passerine, turdus, White-tailed shrike |

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Bird of the week – Week 9 : Swainson’s spurfowl

February 28th, 2010 |

Author: Rob |

Posted in Bird of the week, Birding |

Chicken-sized, brownish francolins and spurfowls are quite common in Namibia. Vaguely similar in size and build, closer examination quickly divides them up into several different species. The Swainson’s spurfowl distinguishes itself from its relatives by being brown overall, streaked with black, its bill dark above, red below; its face and throat red; its legs black. Sexes are alike in plumage, although the males are bigger than the females.

Swainson’s is a very common near-endemic resident of Southern Africa, and one that has managed to expand its range through its tolerance of humans and by adapting to areas under cultivation; it is now to be found in Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia, Angola and Malawi. In Namibia it is found mainly in the northern half of the country, and prefers the highlands. Usually found in pairs or small groups, they are bold and quite conspicuous. The male calls very loudly, especially at dawn and at dusk; a harsh crowing, krrraa krrraa krrraa, repeated 6-7 times and reducing in volume towards end of the series. He often calls while perched conspicuously on a fence post, tree stump or other elevated spot.

They are found in grass and thickets, on cultivated lands, in riverine bush, and around vleis and dams, in pairs or in small coveys of up to 8 birds. Generally the Swainson’s feed in open fields on seeds, berries, shoots, roots, bulbs, insects, snails and slugs and will seek cover in dense vegetation when disturbed. They usually drink in both the morning and the evening. In spite of spending most of their time on the ground, they fly strongly and are quite agile in flight.

Swainson’s spurfowl are monogamous and territorial. The females lay a clutch of 4 to 12 eggs in a hollow in the ground in the grassveld or bushveld that is lined with dry grass and leaves. The eggs hatch after an incubation period of about 24 days.

The scientific name for the Swainson’s spurfowl is Pternistis swainsonii; pternistis from the Greek meaning “one who trips from the heel”, perhaps referring to the spurs of the male; and swainsonii after William Swainson (1789-1855), the British naturalist, artist, and author.

Tags: francolins, Pternistis swainsonii, Swainson's spurfowl, William Swainson |

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Bird of the week – Week 8 : Red-eyed bulbul

February 21st, 2010 |

Author: Rob |

Posted in Bird of the week, Birding |

The African red-eyed bulbul is near endemic to Southern Africa, its range extending only marginally into southern Angola and Zambia. It is extremely common throughout most of Namibia, with the exception of the Namib Desert, inhabiting savanna grasslands, woodland and riverine bush, farmyards, gardens and orchards, preferring to be near water. Its cheerful call is heard throughout the day as the birds are conspicuous and vocal in pairs or small groups, often calling from the tops of trees.

These bulbuls are smallish birds, the males, at 21 cm in length, are slightly bigger than the females. They are vocal and conspicuous, found usually in pairs or small loose groups; the males often calling from the top of a bush or tree – till-pop-peep-peep-tiddlypop or similar. They are quite distinctive with their black heads and bright orange-red eye rings and lemon-yellow undertails. They forage mostly in trees, seldom on the ground and they often hawk insects in flight. Their diet consists mainly of fruit, nectar, and insects; they drink frequently and in consequence are seldom found too far from water.

Bulbuls are monogamous and the males are territorial, aggressively seeing-off other males during the breeding season. Their nest is a neat cup of dry grass and fine twigs usually built by the female although the male may offer encouragement by singing from a nearby bush. The nest is usually well above the ground in the fork of a tree or bush and often quite well hidden. A clutch of 2 to 3 eggs is most common and the incubation period is about 12 days. They are regularly parasitised by the Jacobin cuckoo (Clamator jacobinus). The African red-eyed bulbul lives for about four years.

They are quite confiding birds and will often visit campsites and gardens in search of tidbits.

The scientific binomial for the African red-eyed bulbul is Pycnonotus nigricans. Pycnonotus is from the Greek “pyknos”, meaning thick back, probably in reference to their thickly feathered backs, and nigricans from the Latin meaning blackish, apparently referring to the bird’s darkly coloured head. Thus a bird with a thick back and a blackish head. Say what!?!

Tags: African red-eyed bulbul, bulbul, Pycnonotus nigricans |

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Bird of the week – Week 7 : African fish-eagle

February 14th, 2010 |

Author: Rob |

Posted in Bird of the week, Birding |

Bird of the week – Week 7 : African fish-eagle

Picture this. Reclining on a sofa-bed in the open air pub at Oddballs Camp in the Okavango Delta, beer in hand, looking out over the water in the late afternoon sunshine. In the distance the classic cry of the African fish-eagle, one of the most easily recognizable sounds of the African bushveld. The next cry is a somewhat louder. The bird appears, flying low above the water; it swoops and in split second it has a fish firmly gripped in the vice of the talons of one foot. In a few more seconds it has disappeared from view, leaving Jane and me with a powerful and enduring memory.

(4)

The African fish-eagle features on the coat-of-arms of Namibia and is also the national bird of both Zimbabwe and Zambia. They are found, usually in pairs, on most of the larger rivers, lakes, pans and dams of Africa, south of the Sahara, and also in many coastal lagoons and estuaries.

They are big birds, the females slightly larger than the males, being up to 73 cm in length and with a wingspan of over 2.3 metres. They are most often seen during daylight hours perched on tall trees near water.

(1)

The well-known call is most commonly heard at dawn, with the male and female sometimes performing a duet, but they call at any time of the day, often while in flight. As described above, they stoop to catch fish, usually of less than 1 kg in weight, with their feet, usually taking them within 10 or 15 cm of the surface without even slowing their flight

(2)

Rather less dramatically, fish-eagles also eat carrion, eggs, nestlings and even occasionally adult water-birds, frogs, terrapins, insects and rarely even dassies and monkeys.

The fish-eagles mate for life and their nest, which they re-use from year to year, is an untidy bowl of sticks, lined with grass and leaves, high above the ground, usually in the fork of a tree near the water. Most commonly two or three eggs are laid, but often only one chick will survive.

(3)

The scientific name of the African fish-eagle is Haliaeetus vocifer; haliaeetus being from the Greek words “hals” meaning “salt” or “the sea” and “aetos” meaning “eagle”, and vocifer from the Latin “vocifero” meaning to “cry out aloud”. Hence “the Sea-eagle that cries out aloud” – Perfect!

Picture this. Jane and I are reclining on a sofa-bed in the open air pub at Oddballs Camp in the Okavango Delta, beer in hand, looking out over the water in the late afternoon sunshine. In the distance we hear the classic cry of the African fish-eagle, one of the most easily recognizable sounds of the African bushveld. Then a second cry, somewhat louder. The huge brown and white eagle appears, flying low above the water; it swoops and in split second it has a fish firmly gripped in the vice of the talons of one foot. In a few more seconds it has disappeared from view, leaving Jane and me with a powerful and enduring memory. What a wonderful moment!

The African fish-eagle features on the coat-of-arms of Namibia and is also the national bird of both Zimbabwe and Zambia. These classic symbols of Africa are found, usually in pairs, on most of the larger rivers, lakes, pans and dams of Africa south of the Sahara, and also in many coastal lagoons and estuaries.

They are big birds, the females slightly larger than the males, being up to 73 cm in length and with a wingspan of over 2.3 metres. They are most often seen during daylight hours perched on tall trees near water where they spend much of their time.

The well-known call is most commonly heard at dawn and at dusk, with the male and female sometimes performing a duet, but they call less frequently at any time of the day, often while in flight. As described above, they stoop to catch fish, usually those of less than 3 kg in weight, seizing the fish in their powerful talons while their legs are thrown well forward, usually taking those within 10 or 20 cm of the surface of the water without even slowing their flight.

Rather less dramatically, fish-eagles also eat carrion, eggs, nestlings and even occasionally adult water-birds, frogs, insects and rarely even dassies and monkeys. They are very agile and are quite capable of taking birds in flight. They are also not above stealing fish from other birds, including pelicans and storks. Kleptoparasitise, if you want the correct word for this chicanery.

The fish-eagles mate for life and their nest, which they re-use from year to year, is an untidy bowl of sticks up to 1.5 metres in diameter, lined with grass and leaves, located high above the ground, usually in the fork of a tree near the water. Most commonly two or three eggs are laid and they hatch after an incubation period of about 45 days, but often only one chick will survive. Life expectancy is estimated to be around 20 years.

The scientific name of the African fish-eagle is Haliaeetus vocifer; “haliaeetus” being from the Greek words “hals” meaning “salt” or “the sea” and “aetos” meaning “eagle”, and vocifer from the Latin “vocifero” meaning to “cry out aloud”. Hence “the Sea-eagle that cries out aloud” – Perfect!

Tags: African fish eagle, Haliaeetus vocifer, Kleptoparasitise, national bird, Oddballs Camp, Okavango Delta |

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Bird of the week – Week 6 : Kori bustard

February 7th, 2010 |

Author: Rob |

Posted in Bird of the week, Birding |

The most impressive thing about the Kori bustard is its size. It is big. Really big. Not as big as a Common ostrich, admittedly, but the difference is that the Kori can fly; in fact it may well be the largest flying bird in the world. The males are up to 1.5 metres in length and can weigh as much as 19 kg. That’s about 1,200 times heavier than a canary.

Their weight, though, does make them a little reluctant to fly, and they are most commonly seen walking sedately through the long grass of the veld. Even when disturbed they will often walk away quickly. When the Kori does fly, it often uses a running take-off, although it can take off from a standstill.

They are solitary or in pairs when breeding; but may be in larger groups at other times. The males display with their necks inflated, their tails raised over their backs and fanned. These polygynous birds don’t make a nest, with the clutch of 1 or 2 eggs laid in a scrape on the bare ground. They are fairly wide spread in Southern Africa, although they are more common in the drier West and are fairly common in Namibia and Botswana. In the Savuti area of Botswana the Southern carmine bee-eater reportedly uses the Kori as a roost as it hawks insects that are disturbed as the Kori walks through the grassland. This association appears to be less common in other parts of Southern Africa.

The Kori’s diet consists of insects, small vertebrates, seeds, and carrion. The fact that they also eat gum from Acacia trees provides the reason for their Afrikaans name – “Gompou”, which means “Gum bustard”.

The scientific name for the Kori bustard is Ardeotis kori; ardeotis being from the Latin “ardea”, meaning a heron or bustard and kori being a corruption of the Setswana word “kgôri”, being the Setswana name for the Kori bustard.

And of course you know this limerick, don’t you?

The bustard is an exquisite fowl

With minimal reason to scowl

For he escaped what would be

Illegitimacy

By the grace of a fortunate vowel.

Tags: ardea, Ardeotis kori, Gompou, Gum bustard, Kori bustard, largest flying bird, limerick |

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