Post number 11 on birds seen in Southern Africa.

The Cape white-eye (Zosterops virens). This photo was taken by my friend Christelle in Mahikeng from her bedroom window. So much better than my effort see below....

This was the only shot I got of a Cape white-eye while we were at the South Coast, and it was not very good!

This species is endemic to South Africa. There are seven subspecies of Cape White-eyes just to confuse the issue!!  The Cape White-eye feeds mainly on insects, but also spiders and their eggs, soft fleshy flowers, nectar, fruit, pollen, and small grains. It readily comes to bird feeders. It is monogamous and only seeks a new partner if the first one dies.

The pearl-spotted owlet (Glaucidium perlatum) KwaZulu-Natal....

This fairly small owl feeds mainly on Arthropods such as grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, spiders, and millipedes. They also take small mammals, birds, reptiles and snails. Most hunting is done from perches.

They are active mainly at dusk and dawn, but also during daytime. Apparently, as adults, they have a 'false face' pattern on the back of their heads !

Burchell's Coucal, (Centropus burchellii). Also known as the rain bird.  Their diet includes small mammals such as rabbits, field mice and other rodents. Rodents are usually taken from the ground and killed using the sharp claws. The bird builds its nest on the ground with figs, straw and leaves. The nest is placed under a bush to protect the young from predators. Fairly common in South Africa. KwaZulu Natal.

The Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus) was placed in the Genus Hieraaetus, but is now placed in the Genus Aquila by many sources. There are two populations of Booted Eagles in South Africa; intra-African breeding migrants and summer visitors from Europe. The Booted Eagle has a broad diet, from insects, up to medium-sized birds and mammals, everything is taken. KwaZulu-Natal.

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Wild Bird Wednesday 305

Post number 10 on birds seen in Southern Africa.

The white-backed vulture (Gyps africanus) is an accomplished scavenger that feeds on the carcasses of Africa’s large animals. Its plumage is dark brown with black skin on the neck and head, making the white lower-back, for which it is named, even more prominent....

As they age, the plumage of white-backed vultures becomes paler and plainer, especially the female’s; conversely, juveniles are darker, with lighter brown streaks on their feathers.  The two above are both immature birds...

The white-backed vulture is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List.  KwaZulu-Natal.

The Cape Vulture occurs near the mountains, in open grassland, arid savannahs and steppes. The mountains provide them with thermal currents necessary for the flight of these heavy birds. This species is less common in wooded areas. They breed and roost on cliffs....

The Cape Vulture is a scavenger, feeding at large carcasses where it takes fragments of bones, soft muscles and organ tissues. It has become a rare species. They are threatened by the lack of food due to the changes in farm practices involving fewer livestock mortalities. Collisions with power lines are also important threats.  These vultures suffer poisoning and persecution and are killed for traditional medicine, especially for their brain!

The Cape Vulture is listed as vulnerable with a small population.  Botswana.

The red-crested korhaan or red-crested bustard (Lophotis ruficrista).  KwaZulu-Natal.

It eats mainly invertebrates, supplemented with seeds and fruit. It mainly forages on the ground, picking up food items with its bill. The male puts on a spectacular courtship display to multiple females, who solely incubate the eggs and raise the chicks. She lays 1-2 eggs.

The African grass owl (Tyto capensis) is a species of the barn owl family. Grass owls are completely nocturnal and are only seen during the day if disturbed. They are listed as a vulnerable species. Mainly eats rodents, foraging nocturnally by flying low over the ground, twisting its head in order to locate by sight and sound. Once prey is located it dives to the ground and picks it up with its talons, feeding on the ground or on a nearby perch. KwaZulu-Natal.

Bateleur Eagle (Terathopius ecaudatus). The Bateleur spends most of the time in the day on the wing, soaring effortlessly.  It flies almost the entire day, until the cooler hours of the evening. It may fly well over 300 km every day, during 8 to 9 hours. During the day, it sometimes perches in a tree, close to carrion, where it may try to pirate smaller raptors. When not in flight, the Bateleur perches or stands on the ground usually near water.

Their diet includes small antelope, mice, birds, snakes, carrion, lizards and especially road kills.  I could watch them for hours as they soar so effortlessly. KwaZulu-Natal.


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Wild Bird Wednesday 304

Post number 9 on the birds I saw in Southern Africa.

Southern Pale chanting goshawk (Melierax canorus); Botswana...

Pale chanting goshawks can be found throughout their range in arid habitats with less than 75 cm of rainfall per year. These habitats include the Namib Desert and other dry woodland, shrubland, and grassland areas. Pale chanting goshawks are often seen perching on trees and poles for power lines near the roads....

It sits upright on its long legs when perched on a tree. It is often seen walking about on the ground. It can run very fast when pursuing a prey. But it also hunts from a perch. When prey is selected, it dives and runs after it. It also performs agile aerial chases after birds or hares running on the ground.

It is found singly or in pairs. Pairs have a well-defined territory and usually stay in and around the same group of trees. When breeding season starts, the male performs some displays. It perches on the top of a tall tree and utters its melodious call, often for hours. Both mates can soar together, making circles at about 200 to 300 feet in the sky. They also perform an undulating flight display while calling. 

Immature tawny eagle (Aquila rapax).  KwaZulu_Natal. It breeds in most of Africa, both north and south of the Sahara Desert, and across tropical southwestern Asia to India. It is a resident breeder which lays one to three eggs in a stick nest in a tree or crag or on the ground. Throughout its range, it favours open dry habitats such as desert, semi-desert, steppes, or savannah plains.  Apologies we did not see an adult and this was at a long distance !

Yellow-throated Longclaw (Macronyx croceus).  KwaZulu-Natal.   It mainly eats insects and other invertebrates, doing most of its foraging on the ground, plucking food from grass and occasionally hawking prey aerially. 

Monogamous territorial solitary nester, with males performing an aerial display in which they slowly fly in a circle with the tail spread. The nest is built by the female, consisting of a thick-walled cup of coarse grass blades and stems, lined with fine grass and rootlets. 

Martial Eagle (Polemaetus Bellicosus).  KwaZulu-Natal.  They are the largest of the African eagles and incredibly powerful, capable of knocking an adult man off his feet. They reputedly have enough power in one foot to break a man's arm. The Martial eagle weighs in at almost 14 pounds (6.5 Kg.) and has a wingspan of about 6 feet 4 inches. It is about 32 inches long....  

Food varies in the area that they live, varying from quite large birds, to mammals, smaller of the cat families and jackals. They build nests in the highest of trees using sticks, and where they have a good lookout. They often use the same nest for several years.  The female only lays one to two eggs and generally, they only breed once every two years.  The average age of a bird is thought to be around 14, but one banded bird was aged 25.

They could soon be on the endangered list. Martial Eagle sightings have dropped by as much as 60% since the late 1980s.

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Wild Bird Wednesday 303

Post number 8 on the birds I saw in Southern Africa.

Pied Crow (Corvus albus). KwaZulu-Natal.

The Pied Crow is omnivorous, feeding on various insects and molluscs. It also takes small vertebrates such as amphibians and lizards, rodents, small birds and fish. It may sometimes catch insects, birds and bats in flight. It takes roadside kills and frequents the rubbish dumps with raptors and marabou storks.

The Pied Crow is known to raid bird’s nests, taking eggs and nestlings. It follows the bushfires for insects and the plough for invertebrates. It has been reported that it can break eggs of an Ostrich dropping stones from a height!

Steppe Buzzard (Buteo vulpinus). KwaZulu-Natal.

The Steppe Buzzard is a common summer visitor to South Africa. They prey mostly on small mammals, birds, reptiles and invertebrates, and will scavenge from carcasses.

The Great White Pelicans (Pelecanus onocrotalus) in the foreground, with a Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus)in the background.

The Pelican in an enormous waterbird, mostly white with short legs and a massive, broad and very long azure blue bill which has a central red stripe and ends in a small, red hook. The mostly white bird has contrasting black flight feathers on the wings. In the breeding season, the Pelican takes on a pinkish flush and there is usually a yellow wash on the breast.

The Great White Pelicans with Yellow-billed Stork (Mycteria ibis) in the background.

Yellow-billed Kite (Milvus parasitus).

As above.

Urban areas suit this bird well, as it is incredibly opportunistic in its behaviour. Diet is varied, and it will feed on any prey small enough to be caught and eaten, such as small mammals, reptiles, birds, and insects. Carrion is regularly eaten, as well as human leftovers and scraps. It is not uncommon for yellow-billed kites to swoop down and steal food from under the nose of humans.

As above.

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Wild Bird Wednesday 302

Post number 7 on the birds I saw in Southern Africa.

Arrow-marked babbler (I think), (Turdoides jardineii). Botswana.

African Pied Wagtail, (Motacilla aguimp). South Coast.

Red-winged starling, (Onychognathus morio).  South Coast.

The southern red bishop or red bishop (Euplectes orix).

This was a bird on my bucket list to take lots of photos of; sadly this was the only one I saw, and at a distance 😞 KwaZulu-Natal.

Lesser Doublecollared Sunbird, (Nectarinia chalybea).

She was sitting on eggs in a friends garden which is the only reason a got a true identification.  All hatched apparently after we left with no problems..

Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.

African harrier-hawk, or gymnogene (Polyboroides typus). KwaZulu-Natal.

They are usually solitary and they are specialised in robbing nests of other birds of eggs and chicks!  It will also eat lizards and oil palm nuts.

Mocking cliff chat, mocking chat or cliff chat, (Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris).  KwaZulu-Natal.

As above.

Long-crested eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis).  KwaZulu-Natal

The Long-crested Eagle feeds mainly on small rodents. It drops from an exposed perch on its prey, and catches it. It does not hunt on the wing. It is often perched on trees on the road sides, fences or telegraph poles. It hunts generally in the early morning or at dusk, and it rests during the day under the shadow of a tall tree.

The females are generally slightly larger than the male but often have a shorter crest.

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Wild Bird Wednesday 301