More birds from my travels seen in South Africa and Botswana.

Little stint (Calidris minuta). Botswana.

See comments for possible identification of this being Kittlitz’s plover (Charadrius pecuarius).

Broad-tailed paradise whydah (Vidua obtusa). Botswana

Shaft-tailed whydah or queen whydah (Vidua regia). Botswana.

Southern yellow-billed hornbill (Tockus leucomelas). Botswana and South Africa.

As above.

As above.

Southern red-billed hornbill (Tockus rufirostris). Botswana.

As above.  During the incubation (brooding of the eggs), the nest entrance is typically blocked off with a plaster of mud, droppings and fruit pulp. The purpose for this is to keep the nest, including the brooding female, eggs and young chicks protected from predators. A narrow opening is left to allow the male to transfer food to the mother and the chicks.

Swainson's spurfowl, Swainson's francolin or chikwari (Pternistis swainsonii). Botswana and South Africa.

African jacana (Actophilornis africanus). Botswana.

The African darter (Anhinga rufa), sometimes called the snakebird. Chobe, Botswana.

As above.

Pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis). Chobe, Botswana.

  A pair- as above,

Speckled pigeon (Columba guinea), or (African) rock pigeon. Elephant Sands, Botswana.

As above,

Brown-hooded kingfisher (Halcyon albiventris). South Coast, South Africa.

Trumpeter hornbill (Bycanistes bucinator). Kwa-ZuluNatal, South Africa.

Linking with Wild Bird Wednesday 296

To be continued.....