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Fairy Flycatcher (Stenostira scita)

Posted on 22/01/2024 by Ryan Tippett

Cover image: Fairy Flycatcher by Marna Buys – Wonderboom, Gauteng – BirdPix No. 261347

Identification

This species is notable for being one of the smallest birds in southern Africa, weighing in at just 6 grams.

Fairy Flycatcher (*Stenostira scita*)
Middelburg district, Eastern Cape
Photo by Tino Herselman

The Fairy Flycatcher has distinctive grey, black and white plumage. The head is grey with a black facial mask, surrounded by white. The mantle and back are plain grey, and the breast and upper belly is grey, fading to white with a slight peach-coloured wash on the flanks and lower belly. The flight feathers are black with a conspicuous white wing bar. The tail is black and fairly long with white outer tail feathers.

The sexes are alike, while juveniles are browner above and lack the peach flanks.

The Fairy Flycatcher is perhaps most likely to be mistaken for the black, white and grey male of the Pririt Batis (Batis pririt), but that species has a distinctive, broad black breast-band and a shorter tail.

Fairy Flycatcher (*Stenostira scita*)
Standerton, Mpumalanga
Photo by JC van Rensburg

Status and Distribution

The Fairy Flycatcher is fairly common to common and is endemic to southern Africa. Its range encompasses most of South Africa, but is mostly absent from hot low lying areas like the lowveld and Zululand. Its range also excludes a broad coastal strip from near East London in the Eastern Cape to northern KwaZulu-Natal.

The range includes all of Lesotho and just reaches into Eswatini (Swaziland). It also occurs during winter in southern Namibia, south-eastern Botswana and very marginally in Zimbabwe.

SABAP2 distribution map for **Fairy Flycatcher** (*Stenostira scita*) – October 2023.
Details for map interpretation can be found here.

The Fairy Flycatcher is most numerous in the Nama Karoo where it is resident, moving into surrounding biomes as an altitudinal migrant during the winter months.

There is no evidence of changes to its distribution, and the Fairy Flycatcher is not considered threatened.

Fairy Flycatcher (*Stenostira scita*)
Near Anysberg, Western Cape
Photo by Sue Gie

Habitat

The Fairy Flycatcher prefers semi-arid Karoo shrublands, of both the Nama and Succulent Karoo. It also inhabits fynbos and grassland regions. It requires an element of woody growth, however sparse, in which to forage, such as thorny thickets, scrubby mountain kloofs, wooded hillsides and drainage lines.

It is mostly resident in the Nama and Succulent Karoo biomes, moving into Acacia savanna, montane scrub, fynbos, plantations and gardens, particularly in the northern and eastern parts of its distribution. The Fairy Flycatcher normally avoids extensive closed woodlands.

Habitat near Carnarvon, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett

Behaviour

The Fairy Flycatcher is an active species that moves around singly, in pairs or occasionally in loose family groups. Restless, agile and constantly on the move, the Fairy Flycatcher forages among foliage, flitting between trees and shrubs. It frequently fans and raises its tail. Flies low from bush to bush and seldom flies far.

Fairy Flycatcher (*Stenostira scita*)
Hillston Farm, Eastern Cape
Photo by David Solomon

Fairy Flycatchers join mixed-species foraging parties with other small insectivorous species. Gleans small prey from twigs and leaves and flowers within leafy bushes, or in tree canopies. Often hawks airborne insects in short, fluttering flights. The Fairy Flycatcher’s dies consists entirely of small invertebrates, including flies mosquitoes, Hemiptera (Bugs), very small beetles, lacewings, wasps, moths and spiders.

Fairy Flycatcher (*Stenostira scita*)
Soutpan district, Free State
Photo by Toby Esplin

The Fairy Flycatcher breeds from October to December. It is a monogamous, solitary nester. The nest is a small, deep cup of finely shredded grass, weed stems and shredded bark, bound with spider web and is built entirely by the female. The outside of the nest is camouflaged with a layer of lichen, strands of bark and dry foliage secured with spider web to the outer wall. The nest is well hidden and usually placed in a densely foliaged shrub around 1m above the ground.

Fairy Flycatcher (*Stenostira scita*)
Sani Pass, KwaZulu-Natal
Photo by Dave Rimmer

2 or 3 glossy, pale green-brown eggs are laid per clutch. The incubation period lasts from 17 to 18 days and all incubation is likely performed by the female. The male feeds the female in the nest. The young are altricial but further details regarding the nestling period etc. are unrecorded.

Further Resources

Species text adapted from the first Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP1), 1997.

The use of photographs by Dave Rimmer, David Solomon, JC van Rensburg, Lance Robinson, Marna Buys, Sue Gie, Tino Herselman and Toby Esplin is acknowledged.

Virtual Museum (BirdPix > Search VM > By Scientific or Common Name).

Other common names: Fairy Warbler (Alt. English); Feevlieëvanger (Afrikaans); Mignard enchanteur, Érythrocerque de Livingstone (French); Elf-apalis (Dutch); Livingstones Rotschwanzschnäpper (German); Papa-moscas-d’asa-branca (Portuguese).

List of bird species in this format is available here.

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM 2023. Fairy Flycatcher Stenostira scita. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2024/01/22/fairy-flycatcher-stenostira-scita/

Bird identification, birding

Fairy Flycatcher (*Stenostira scita*)
Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve, Gauteng
Photo by Lance Robinson

Archive/Bird identification/Birding/Birds

Secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius)

Posted on 13/01/2024 by Ryan Tippett

Cover image of Secretarybird by Johan and Estelle van Rooyen – Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape – BirdPix No. 230151

The Secretarybird belongs to its own family: Sagittariidae, but are closely related to diurnal raptors. The name ‘Secretarybird’ is derived from ‘Saqr-et-tair’, the arabic name for this species which means ‘hunter bird’.

Identification

The Secretarybird is a large, striking and unmistakeable species.

Secretarybird (*Sagittarius serpentarius*)
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape
Photo by Anne Todd

It is noticeably long-legged with bare pinkish-grey lower legs. The upper legs and lower belly are black. The rest of the underparts and the head are pale grey. The upper parts are mostly plain bluish grey with black flight feathers. There is a characteristic, dark-tipped, long erectile crest on the head. The bare facial skin is orange and the bill is horn-grey. The tail is elongated and grey with broad black bands and a white tip.

The sexes are very similar but males are larger with a longer crest and tail. Juveniles have duller, browner plumage, shorter tails and the bare facial skin is yellowish.

Secretarybird (*Sagittarius serpentarius*)
Ithala Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal
Photo by Carel van der Merwe

The Secretarybird is unlike any other species but superficially resembles Blue Crane from a distance. That species lacks any black colouration and has un-feathered upper legs.

Status and Distribution

The Secretarybird is an Afrotropical species occurring throughout the savanna regions of Africa. It avoids the Sahara desert of north Africa, the central and west African rain forest belt and the most arid parts of north-east Africa. It is widely distributed across Southern Africa.

SABAP2 distribution map for Secretarybird *Sagittarius serpentarius* – January 2024. Details for map interpretation can be found here.

The Secretarybird is considered locally fairly common to uncommon in southern Africa and is listed as Near-threatened due to decreases in some local populations. Overall, the current distribution of the Secretarybird is believed to reflect closely the historical range, and any changes are likely to be in abundance and not distributional.

Habitat

The Secretarybird is an inhabitant of open country, mainly savanna, open woodland, grassland, dry floodplains and Karoo shrublands. It prefers habitats with relatively short grass. Some man-made habitats are also used, such as airfields, grazing paddocks and fallow fields. The Secretarybird avoids mountain fynbos, forest, dense woodland and very rocky, hilly or mountainous areas.

Behaviour

Secretarybird (*Sagittarius serpentarius*)
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape
Photo by Zenobia van Dyk

Secretarybirds usually occur singly or in pairs, and occasionally in family groups of 3 to 4 birds. Groups of up to 50have been recorded at waterholes in arid areas. The Secretarybird is not known to undertake any regular seasonal movements, but is nomadic with increased local movements outside the breeding season. It is highly nomadic in low-rainfall areas.

Secretarybird (*Sagittarius serpentarius*)
Zimanga Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal
Photo by Vaughan Jessnitz

Secretarybirds roost singly or in pairs, usually in the crown of a flat-topped thorn tree, and often roosts on the nest. Flies to roost 1-2 hr before dark and often only leaves the roost a couple hours after sunrise. They frequently enjoy a dustbath and drinks water regularly in arid areas. The Secretarybird is often active during the heat of the day, but sometimes rests in shade when it gets too hot.

They are well adapted to soaring which enables them to disperse widely and efficiently. Secretarybirds have to run to take off from the ground, usually by running into the prevailing wind with the wings open for balance and to increase lift.

Secretarybird (*Sagittarius serpentarius*)
Farm district, Eastern Cape
Photo by Lance Robinson

Spends hours at a time striding across open veld in search of prey, occasionally stamping repeatedly in a small area to disturb or dislodge prey. Raises its wings in excitement and for balance when prey is sighted. All prey is captured on the ground, usually with the bill. Any prey that gets disturbed during stamping bouts is quickly dispatched with hard downward blows from the feet, which are equipped with short, strong toes and robust claws. Small prey items, such as insects or small tortoises, are swallowed whole. Larger prey items are secured with the feet and torn up with bill.

Secretarybird (*Sagittarius serpentarius*)
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape
Photo by Josu Meléndez

Consumes a wide variety of animal prey. Most prey items are small, favouring grasshoppers, locusts and lizards which usually form the bulk of the diet. Other commonly consumed, smallish prey items include amphibians, rodents and birds, including their young and eggs. Larger prey items include birds up to the size of francolins, mammals up to the size of hares and large snakes, including highly venomous species like puffadder and cobras.

Secretary birds are well equipped to deal with snakes, the long, bare legs are covered with tough armour-like scales to prevent injury or bites from its prey, and the upper legs are densely feathered to provide further protection. However, contrary to popular belief, snakes are not a staple and make up only a small percentage of the Secretarybird’s diet.

Some interesting prey items that have been recorded include Striped Polecat (Ictonyx striatus), Slender Mongoose (Herpestes sanguinea), and Southern African Hedgehog (Atelerix frontalis). Secretarybirds are often attracted to recently burnt areas to feed on animals displaced by the fire, but they do not eat carrion.

Secretarybird (*Sagittarius serpentarius*)
Pilanesberg National Park, North West
Photo by Helen Badenhorst

The Secretarybird breeds throughout southern Africa and in all months except during mid-winter in the winter-rainfall regions. They are territorial and maintain territories of 20-230 km²around nest, depending on habitat.

The nest is is a large, flat platform of sticks up to, 2.5m in diameter and about 50cm thick. Nests are usually sunk into the top of a dense, thorny tree or large bush making the nest difficult to see. The central bowl of the nest is lined with grass and sometimes with pieces of dried dung.

Secretarybird (*Sagittarius serpentarius*)
Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga
Photo by Len de Beer

1 to 3 (usually 2) eggs are laid per clutch. As with most raptors, incubation starts before clutch completion, resulting in asynchronous hatching and chicks of different ages. The eggs are chalky white or pale greenish-blue. Incubation lasts for around 45 days and most incubation is performed by the female. The male provides for the female at this time by bring her food on the nest. The young are altricial and the nestling period lasts for up to 106 days during which time they are fed by both parents. Young chicks are fed by regurgitation but are presented with whole prey items as they get older. If 3 chicks hatch the youngest usually starves to death as it gets out-competed by its older siblings.

Secretarybird (*Sagittarius serpentarius*)
Greyton district, Western Cape
Photo by Stuart Shearer

Young birds that have left the nest start hunting for themselves, but remain partly dependent on their parents for food for a further 3 months or so.

Further Resources

This species text is adapted from the first Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP1), 1997.

The use of photographs by Anne Todd, Carel van der Merwe, Helen Badenhorst, Johan and Estelle van Rooyen, Josu Meléndez, Lance Robinson, Len de Beer, Stuart Shearer, Vaughan Jessnitz and Zenobia van Dyk is acknowledged.

Virtual Museum (BirdPix > Search VM > By Scientific or Common Name).

Other common names: Sekretarisvoël (Afrikaans); iNtungunono (Zulu); Ingxangxosi (Xhosa); Secretarisvogel (Dutch); Messager serpentaire, Messager sagittaire (French); Sekretär (German); Secretário (Portuguese).

A list of bird species in this format is available here.

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM 2023. Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available Online at https://thebdi.org/2024/01/13/secretarybird-sagittarius-serpentarius/

Bird identification, birding

Archive/Bird identification/Birding/BirdPix/Birds

Cape Crow (Corvus capensis)

Posted on 10/01/2024 by Ryan Tippett

Cover image of Cape Crow by Anne Todd – Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape – BirdPix No. 270764

Identification

The Cape Crow is a distinctive black corvid. It is easily recognisable as the only all-black crow in the region. In both sexes the entire body is glossy black. The bill, legs and feet are also black. The head is rounded and the bill is pointed and more slender than in other corvids.

Juveniles are a duller brownish black.

Identification of Cape Crow — Cape Crow *Corvus capensis*
Lotheni Nature Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal
Photo by Andrew Kruger

The Cape Crow is unlikely to be mistaken for any other species except the introduced House Crow (Corvus splendens), but that species has a dark greyish nape, mantle and breast. The House Crow is also smaller with a shorter, heavier bill.

Cape Crow *Corvus capensis*
Mackenzie Country Club, KwaZulu-Natal
Photo by Malcolm Robinson

Status and Distribution

The Cape Crow is generally a common species across its range. It occurs from Angola and Zambia Southwards, extending across southern Africa in a rather unusual distribution pattern. It is distributed almost continuously along the coast and adjacent interior from the Kunene River, through Cape Aghulhas to Richards Bay. An axis of distribution runs from the Etosha Pan in Namibia, through Botswana to Mpumalanga and western eSwatini (Swaziland). It It also ocurrs on the central plateau of Zimbabwe.

A second subspecies of the Cape Crow is found in nort-east Africa, centered on Ethiopia. The two subspecies do not overlap.

SABAP2 distribution map for Cape Crow — SABAP2 distribution map for **Cape Crow** *Corvus capensis* – download in January 2024.
Details for map interpretation can be found here.

It is likely that the distribution of this adaptable species has been greatly influenced by human activities. Black Crows frequently build their nests on telephone poles and electricity pylons, and the erection of these structures has probably facilitated the spread of the Cape Crow into otherwise unsuitable, treeless areas. It is considered a pest by maize farmers.

Habitat

The Cape Crow is most common in open habitats with patches of trees or wooded watercourses. In the eastern regions of southern Africa it is generally a species of montane grasslands, and in the west of southern Africa it inhabits open, arid areas. It is uncommon in the Nama Karoo and in well-developed woodlands, but occurs in open, dry savannas, especially in the Kalahari. It is also common in cereal croplands where the natural vegetation has been removed for agriculture.

Behaviour

Cape Crows usually live as permanently territorial pairs but can occasionally be found in groups of up to 50 or more. They are less often solitary. The Cape Crow is a sedentary, resident species and is not known to undertake seasonal movements.

The Cape Crow is less aerial than other southern African corvids and spends much time perched or foraging on the ground.

Cape Crows are omnivorous. Insects are an important part of the Cape Crow’s diet, including a number of pest species suck as swarming locusts and the Karoo Caterpillar (Loxostege frustalis). Other insects taken include various beetles and their larvae, grasshoppers, termites etc. They also consume various arachnids, snails, lizards, frogs, young tortoises, and sometimes the chicks of domestic chickens

The plant side of its diet consists mainly of bulbs, fruit and seeds, including fallen grain. They are fond of the fruits of the alien Prickly Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) and are implicated in the dispersal of this pest in parts of the Karoo.

Cape Crows forage primarily on the ground, searching the bases of shrubs, grass and other low-growing vegetation. They regularly search for food along road verges and are partial to roadkill, although less so than the Pied Crow (Corvus albus). Cape Crows regularly follow ploughs to snap up any fleeing prey items and they are attracted to areas with livestock in order to probe around dung for insects and grubs. It is not known to attack young lambs in the manner of other, larger corvids. The Cape Crow is also less inclined to scavenge around human habitation than the Pied crow (Corvus albus), and is not often found in urban areas.

Roosts in trees, either in pairs or family groups, and sometimes communally, forming large groups in trees. They roost on telephone poles and pylons in otherwise treeless desert and semi-desert regions. Cape Crows drink water regularly and are partial to bathing. Bathes by wading belly-deep in water and dipping the head and shaking the wings to wet the entire body.

Cape Crows are recorded breeding from July to January, although most breeding takes place from September to November. The nest is a bulky cup-like structure made from plant stems and leaves. The nest is is a large bowl of sticks, twigs and sometimes bits of wire. it is thickly lined with wool, fur, cloth, string, feathers and dry dung. The nest us usually placed among thin branches near the top of a tall tree or at the top of a telephone pole.

Cape Crow nest — Cape Crow *Corvus capensis*
Near Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal
Photo by Pamela Kleiman

Anywhere from one to six (usually four) eggs are laid per clutch. The eggs are pale pink with brown to purplish spots and speckles. Incubation takes 18 or 19 days and duties are shared by both sexes. The nestling period lasts 36 to 39 days and the young are also fed by both parents. Fledged birds are dependent on their parents for food for up to three months after leaving the nest and may remain with the parents for up to six months.

Corvus capensis chicks — Cape Crow *Corvus capensis*
Between Calvinia and Williston, Northern Cape
Photo by Amour McCarthy

Further Resources

Species text in first Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP1), 1997.

The use of photographs by Amour McCarthy, Andrew Kruger, Anne Todd, Colin Summersgill, Malcolm Robinson and Pamela Kleiman is acknowledged.

Virtual Museum (BirdPix > Search VM > By Scientific or Common Name).

Other common names: Black Crow (Alternative English); Swartkraai (Afrikaans); iNgwababane (Zulu); Unomyayi (Xhosa); Corbeau du Cap, Corneille du Cap (French); Kapkrähe (German); Kaapse Roek (Dutch); Gralha do Cabo (Portuguese)

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM 2024. Cape Crow Corvus capensis. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2024/01/10/cape-crow-corvus-capensis/

List of bird species in this format is available here.

Bird identification, birding

Archive/Biodiversity/Bird identification/Birding/BirdPix/Birds

Diederik Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx caprius)

Posted on 06/01/2024 by Ryan Tippett

Cover image: Diederik Cuckoo by Sybrand Venter – Woody Cape Nature Reserve, Eastern Cape – BirdPix No. 243119

Identification

The Diederik Cuckoo is a distinctive, small and slender species. It is among the most conspicuous of all cuckoos. The sexes are similar in plumage coloration but females are duller and slightly larger than males.

In adult males the head and back is metallic green with bronze patches on the back of the head and nape. The supercilium, forehead and crown stripe are white. The tail is dark green with white tips and white spots along both edges. The upper wings are glossy bronze-green, with large white spots. The flight feathers are black with white bars across the primaries. Underwing coverts and the undersides of the flight feathers are dark, with white bars. The underparts are white and the flanks, thighs and under tail coverts are barred green. The bill is black while the eyes and eye-ring are red. The legs and feet are grey.

Adult females are duller and have barring that extends onto the breast and they often have a buff-coloured throat.

Identification female Diederik Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius — Diederik Cuckoo (*Chrysococcyx caprius*)
St. Francis Bay, Eastern Cape
Photo by Desire Darling

In juveniles the upper parts are dull green, bright rufous or intermediate, with green and rufous barring. In some individuals the rufous is restricted to the crown only. The upper wing coverts carry pale spots (except in rufous birds). The underparts are white and the throat has dark greenish or rufous streaks. The breast and belly have blackish or dark green spots. The bill is pinkish-red and the eyes are greyish-brown. The legs and feet are dark brown.

Diederik Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius — Diederik Cuckoo (*Chrysococcyx caprius*)
St. Francis Bay, Eastern Cape
Photo by Gregg Darling

The Diederik Cuckoo is most likely to be confused with the male Klaas’s Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx klaas) but that species has a small white patch behind the eye and a green half collar extending onto the sides of the breast. The female Klaas’s Cuckoo has a whitish streak behind the eye, an indistinct half collar on the sides of the breast, and a grey (not whitish) throat with finely barred underparts. The red bill of juvenile Diederik Cuckoo separates it from all other African Chrysococcyx species of all ages.

Diederik Cuckoo (*Chrysococcyx caprius*)
Moreleta Kloof Nature Reserve, Gauteng
Photo by Pieter Cronje

Diederik Cuckoo (*Chrysococcyx caprius*)
Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, Gauteng
Photo by Philip Nieuwoudt

Distribution and Status

A common intra-African migrant. The Diederik Cuckoo is widespread across the Afrotropics, from West to East Africa and throughout central and southern Africa. It is also known to occur on the southern Arabian Peninsula. The species is widespread in southern Africa, but is largely absent from the Namib Desert and most of the central and north-western Karoo.

The Diederik Cuckoo is likely to have expanded its range in recent times. Its increased abundance in the Western Cape is attributed to an increase in the abundance of its host species. The Diederik Cuckoo is not considered threatened.

SABAP2 distribution map for Diederik Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius — SABAP2 distribution map for **Diederik Cuckoo** (Chrysococcyx caprius) – November 2023. Details for map interpretation can be found here.

Habitat

The Diederik Cuckoo occurs in a variety of habitats, from forest edge, savanna and closed woodlands, to semi-arid shrublands, parks and gardens. It is not usually found in closed canopy forest and is uncommon in Mopane woodlands. It is otherwise tolerant of a wide range of woodland habitats.

Behaviour

The Diederik Cuckoo is usually encountered solitarily or in pairs. Males are highly conspicuous in the breeding season when they call for extended periods from prominent perches. Females are skulking and less conspicuous, but are often seen in interactions with males. Females tend to sit for long periods concealed in foliage close to the breeding colonies of host species. The flight is swift and direct, with fast wing-beats.

Forages in trees and shrubs, moving from perch to perch through the foliage. Mostly gleans prey from leaves and stems, but also takes prey from the ground or from tree stems. Eats mainly caterpillars, including spiny, hairy and distasteful species. The Diederik Cuckoo also feeds on termites and their alates, grasshoppers, butterflies and various other insects. Caterpillars are grasped near the head, and eviscerated from vigorous shaking. Juveniles skin caterpillars by holding it at one end and flicking it until the skin separates from the body, they then shake them to remove the skin. Brood host eggs are also sometimes eaten.

Diederik Cuckoos are brood parasitic on a diverse assemblage of other bird species. Recorded hosts in southern Africa include Southern Red Bishop, various weaver and sparrow species, Cape Wagtail, Chestnut-vented Warbler, Golden-breasted Bunting, Karoo Prinia, Mountain Wheatear, White-winged Widowbird, Scrub Robins, Marico Flycatcher, African Paradise Flycatcher and Rattling Cisticola amongst others. Parasitism levels vary within and between host species, and between years. Variation in the colour of cuckoo eggs within a particular colony of hosts indicates parasitism by several females. Offspring typically select same host species as the mother.

Females are territorial, defending colonies of potential hosts from other females. Males range across female territories. Males compete for access to territorial females by chasing one another while giving a fast, high-pitched version of its characteristic song. In advertising display, a male will call persistently to attract females. Most calling is done in the early morning and late afternoon from a prominent perch and several females may respond.

Prior to egg laying the female will observe a weaver or bishop colony for some time and flies in alone to inspect a potential nest. If she is detected, she will be driven off by the potential host, or mobbed and driven to ground. She will enter the nest if the host is absent.

The female either eats or discards the host’s egg from the nest. Eggs are laid between October and March. and usually 1 egg is laid per host nest. One female can lay up to 24 eggs during the breeding season. The egg colour is variable, either white, greenish white or greenish blue, plain or speckled, and they frequently match the colour and markings of the host eggs.

Cuckoo eggs develop quickly and incubation is completed in 11 to 12 days. The newly hatched cuckoo chick evicts the host’s eggs and young after two or three days. They are largely independent on leaving nest, and are not fed by hosts.

Further Resources

This species text is adapted from the first Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP1), 1997.

The use of photographs by Dave Rimmer, Desire Darling, Gerald Wingate, Giles Mulholland, Gregg Darling, Johan and Estelle van Rooyen, John Cox, Philip Nieuwoudt, Pieter Cronje, Sybrand Venter and Tony Archer is acknowledged.

Virtual Museum (BirdPix > Search VM > By Scientific or Common Name).

Other common names: Diderick Cuckoo, Diederik Cuckoo, Dideric Cuckoo (Alternative English); Diederikkie (Afrikaans); uNononekhanda (Zulu); Umgcibilitshane (Xhosa); Goudkoekoek, Diederikkoekoek (Dutch); Coucou didric (French); Diderikkuckuck, Goldkuckuck (German); Cuco-bronzeado-maior (Portuguese)

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM 2023. Diederik Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available Online at https://thebdi.org/2024/01/06/diederik-cuckoo-chrysococcyx-caprius/

List of bird species in this format is available here.

Bird identification, birding

Archive/Bird ringing/Birding/Birds/OdonataMAp/Paardeberg

RAVE : Days 12 and 13 (8 and 9 December 2023)

Posted on 14/12/2023 by Les Underhill

The first week of the RAVE (RAVE = Ringing, Atlasing, Virtual-museuming Expedition) was spent at Botuin, Vanrhynsdorp, and the report on the first four days, is here, and the report on the Days 5 to 7 is here. RAVE then moved to Vondeling Wine Farm, and the eastern edge of the Paardeberg. The report for Days 8 to 11 is here. This is the report on Days 12 to 13, Friday and Saturday, 8 and 9 December. This report largely focuses on two aspects of our time at Vondeling Wine Farm, bird ringing and OdonataMAPping.

Ringing

The total number of birds ringed at Vondeling Wine Farm was 209 birds of 28 species.

Common name	Handled
Redbilled Teal	3
Red-eyed Dove	1
Ring-necked Dove	3
Laughing Dove	4
Speckled Mousebird	1
Malachite Kingfisher	1
Greater Striped Swallow	2
Cape Bulbul	8
Cape Robin-chat	2
Lesser Swamp Warbler	1
African Reed Warbler	14
Bar-throated Apalis	2
Levaillant’s Cisticola	5
Fiscal Flycatcher	10
Common Starling	5
Malachite Sunbird	1
House Sparrow	16
Cape Sparrow	8
Cape Weaver	53
Southern Masked Weaver	26
Southern Red Bishop	19
Yellow Bishop	3
Common Waxbill	2
Cape Canary	2
Streaky-headed Canary	4
Cape White-eye	4
Karoo Prinia	7
Southern Grey-headed Sparrow	2

This includes a few rehabilitated birds that were brought to us for ringing; the Red-billed Teals had been raised from the tiny duckling stage, and were almost ready for release. It was interesting to see them in the hand. One of them is in the photo below.

OdonataMAPping

We explored the Vondeling farm and the adjacent Paardeberg as intensively as feasible for dragonflies and damselflies. The objective was to collect records for the OdonataMAP section of the Virtual Museum. There was no flowing water on the top of this range of granite hills. We were looking for a few of the Western Cape endemics, but failed to find them. The total number of species found was 18, which represents about 12% of the total number of species of dragonflies and damselflies in South Africa.

Common Citril (Ceriagrion glabrum)
Masai Sprite (Pseudagrion massaicum)
Tropical Bluetail (Ischnura senegalensis)
Blue Emperor (Anax imperator)
Friendly Hawker (Zosteraeschna minuscula)
Common Thorntail (Ceratogomphus pictus)
Common Hooktail (Paragomphus genei)
Darting Cruiser (Phyllomacromia picta)
Two-striped Skimmer (Orthetrum caffrum)
Cape Skimmer (Orthetrum capicola)
Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria)
Eastern Blacktail (Nesciothemis farinosa)
Black Percher (Diplacodes levebvrii)
Broad Scarlet (Crocothemis erythraea)
Little Scarlet (Crocothemis sanguinolenta)
Nomad (Sympetrum fonscolombi)
Red-veined Dropwing (Trithemis arteriosa)
Ferruginous Glider (Tramea limbata)

Four of these species are illustrated below:

The third leg of the RAVE is at Ouberg Private Nature Reserve.

Archive/Biodiversity/Bird ringing/Birding/BirdPix/Citizen Science/LacewingMAP/LepiMAP/OdonataMAp/Paardeberg/ReptileMAP/Trip report/Virtual Museum

RAVE : Days 8 to 11 (4 to 7 December 2023)

Posted on 08/12/2023 by Les Underhill

On 4 December, the RAVE scene moved to Vondeling Wine Farm, and the eastern edge of the Paardeberg. (RAVE = Ringing, Atlasing, Virtual-museuming Expedition.) This is the report on Days 8 to 11, Monday to Thursday. The first week of the RAVE was spent at Botuin, Vanrhynsdorp, and the report on the first four days, is here, and on the Days 5 to 7 is here.

ScorpionMAP

A nightwalk on the lower slopes of the Paardeberg with several UV torches generated records of Uroplectes carinatus. This is a widespread species that we also recorded last week at Botuin. Here is the photo, under UV light, taken with a cell phone:

… and here is the photo being taken!

FrogMAP

We have records of six species of frogs. This is a Clicking Stream Frog Strongylopus grayii.

… and here is a Cape Sandfrog!

LepiMAP

This is the set up we use for attracting moths. It’s a UV light hanging above a white sheet.

Here is one of the many moths attracted to the light:

This moth is Nama Knob Acantholipes namacensis,

On the Paardeberg there were also butterflies to contribute to LepiMAP. Two records are shown here …

… on the left is the Protea Charaxes Charaxes pelias. The two photos on the right are the upper side and the under side of the male of the Vivid Pierrot Tarucus thespis.

ReptileMAP

This Southern Rock Agama Agama atra lizard demonstrated his ability to do push ups.

LacewingMAP

The insects attracted to the UV light are mostly moths, but it also attracts species from other orders. Here is an antlion which landed on the sheet. It will be uploaded to LacewingMAP:

It is Palpares speciousus which has Spotted Veld Antlion as its English name. The wingspan of this individual was close on 12 cm.

DungbeetleMAP

The UV lamp attracted a single dung beetle. This is Onitis aygulus.

MammalMAP

Appropriately for a wine farm, the theme for this section is mammals in the vineyards.

Here is Duiker taking shelter in the vineyards …

… and here is a hare making its risky way across a lawn heading for the safety of the vineyard.

Ringing

Bird ringing has taken place during the cooler half of the mornings, and most evenings. Among the many species ringed were both malachites:

… Malachite Kingfisher and Malachite Sunbird.

BirdPixing

We have done lots of BirdPixing. African Paradise Flycatchers had bred in a small patch of oaks:

The male with its long tail on the right. On the left, a newly fledged young, still being fed by the adults.

It’s breeding season for the peafowl at Vondeling. This male, with its impressive tail, is the width of the gravel road. Peafowl have been feral here for at least two decades.

Atlasing

The RAVE team did a checklist for pentad 3310_1805 in the West Coast National Park, with 44 species.

Appreciation

We greatly value the hospitality of the entire team at Vondeling Wine Farm. Wine tasting and wine sales have moved to Vrymansfontein, close to Paarl. This farm is part of the Vondeling Wines family. We enjoyed a magnificent lunch at the new restaurant at Vrymansfontein, which opened less than a month ago. The view stretches all the way to Table Mountain. Recommended!

Part of the RAVE team at Vrymansfontein.

Friday and Saturday are our last full days at Vondeling Wine Farm, and on Sunday we move on to Ouberg Private Nature Reserve in the mountains behind Montagu.

Archive/Biodiversity/Bird ringing/BirdPix/Birds/Citizen Science/OdonataMAp/Trip report/Vanrhynsdorp/Virtual Museum

RAVE : Days 5, 6 and 7 (1 to 3 December 2023)

Posted on 04/12/2023 by admin

The RAVE continues at Botuin, Vanrhynsdorp. (RAVE = Ringing, Atlasing, Virtual-museuming Expedition.) This is the report on activities on Days 5, 6 and 7, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The report on the first four days, Monday to Thursday, is here.

Atlasing

On Friday we did our first atlas checklist for SABAP2. It was for pentad 3125_1855. It lies along the R27 between Vanrhynsdorp and Nieuwoudtville, near the foot of Vanrhyns Pass. The most famous landmark in the pentad is the Bagdad Cafe, which lies at the centre of the pentad. The map and species list of the pentad are here. It currently has 23 full protocol checklists, spread out over nine of the SABAP2 years, with the first in 2009, so there is scope for an analysis of changes in species occurrence through time.

The pentad has a total of 145 species on full protocol checklists. Of these, 29 have been recorded once only. We added three more species to this category! Yellow-billed Kite, African Black Swift and Tractrac Chat. None of these are particularly surprising in the pentad; the surprise is that they have not been recorded before. It takes a lot of checklists to develop a comprehensive species list!

The most intriguing species of the pentad is the Cape (Glossy) Starling. It was first recorded here in 2020 (see BirdPix record 130035). There is a pair, which breeds, hanging out in the trees at the Bagdad Cafe. This is the easiest spot in the Western Cape to find this species; the alternative site is at Kliprand, farther north, and right on the border with the Northern Cape.

We also got the third Cardinal Woodpecker record for the pentad. It was added via a photo destined for BirdPix. One of the best birding spots within the pentad is where the Gemsbokriver Road cross a main drainage line running westward from the mountains. This drainage line is as busy for birds as the nearby R27 highway is for vehicles. There is continual movement of birds in both directions along this flighway.

Cardinal Woodpecker along the Gemsbokrivier Road

During these three days, we also atlased pentad 3135_1810 at Dorningbaai and got 46 species, pentad 3135_1840 at Vanrhynsdorpand got 50 species, and the pentad in which Botuin is located, pentad 3135_1845 and got 67 species. The Botuin pentad has 249 full protocol checklists; since 2014 there have been multiple checklists per year, and this pentad is certainly a candidate for an analysis of a change in species composition through time.

OdonataMAPping

We did a trip to the Waterfall in the quarter degree grid cell 3118DD Bulshoek. Before our RAVE, the species list for this grid cell had 54 records identified to 23 species (and a few identified to genus).

We recorded 15 species. Of these four were new to the grid cell. The new species are highlighted in this list: Sooty Threadtail, Mountain Sprite, Orange Emperor, Common Thorntail, Cape Thorntail, Common Hooktail, Rock Hooktail, Darting Cruiser, Cape Skimmer, Little Scarlet, Orange-winged Dropwing, Red-veined Dropwing, Navy Dropwing, Highland Dropwing and Jaunty Dropwing.

The Cape Thorntail is endemic to the Western Cape.

Ringing : “lark day”

Friday was “lark day”. This involves setting up a very long line of mistnets in open scrubby habitat that no normal birdringer would consider intelligent. But it is the only way to catch larks. We caught three Karoo Larks and a Large-billed Lark. A lot of effort for what might be considered a small return. But the data collected off the birds is scarce and valuable. Maybe the exchange rate is one Karoo Lark = 100 Southern Red Bishops.

Karoo Lark, Large-billed Lark, and the start of setting up the long line of nets

ScorpionMAPping

An after dinner hunt on Friday evening revealed three species of scorpion, including this one:

It is Parabuthus calvus, which has recently been given the English name Bald Thicktail Scorpion. This South Africa’s rarest thicktail. This species lives in association with Harvester Ants (we have no idea yet of what the association achieves for either species!). Most scorpions are covered with sensory hairs, this one has almost none, hence the name “bald”.

The other two species are common: Uroplectes carinatus and Parabuthus capensis. A total of six species have been recorded in this quarter degree grid cell: 3118DB.

On Monday, 4 December, the RAVE moves from Botuin near Vanrhynsdorp, on to Vondeling Wine Farm, on the eastern edge of the Paardeberg and north of Wellington.

BDInsight/News

BDInsight – December 2023

Posted on 04/12/2023 by admin

Cover image: Fiery necked Nightjar Caprimulgus pectoralis
Karongwe Private Game Reserve, Hoedspruit, Limpopo Province
Photo by Douglas Cook

Botuin RAVE!

RAVE = RINGING, ATLASING AND VIRTUAL MUSEUMING EXPEDITION

The first four days of the BDI Rave were in November from the 27th to the 30th, at Botuin in Vanrhynsdorp. There is a report on this period here. The RAVE continues at other locations into December, until the 18th. Each report will have a link to the next period!

The beautiful Gifberg mountain near Vanrhynsdorp.

Our specific goals during a RAVE focus on ringing, atlasing and the Virtual Museum (VM). Through bird ringing, atlasing, and BioMAPping (for the Virtual Museum), we aim to:

obtain annual survival estimates of key species via recaptures of ringed birds.
build information on local movements of birds by systematically ringing at nearby sites.
strengthen our understanding of moult.
improve our knowledge of annual breeding success and the timing of breeding through a monitoring programme that estimates the percentage of juveniles in the populations at each site.
develop guides that will help ringers and trainee ringers to age and sex birds.

On the first four days of the RAVE, Monday the 27th to Thursday the 30th of December, the ringers handled a total of 302 birds of 28 different species. The numbers of each species are in the table here:

Species	Number ringed
Three-banded Plover	1
Laughing Dove	19
Namaqua Dove	1
White-backed Mousebird	3
Red-faced Mousebird	4
European Bee-eater	1
Southern Grey Tit	2
Red-eyed Bulbul	2
Familiar Chat	2
Cape Robin-chat	3
Karoo Scrub Robin	5
Lesser Swamp Warbler	2
Namaqua Warbler	1
Chestnut-vented Tit-babbler	2
Fiscal Flycatcher	3
Cape Wagtail	1
Southern Fiscal	5
Southern Double-collared Sunbird	8
House Sparrow	7
Cape Sparrow	73
Cape Weaver	7
Southern Masked Weaver	10
Red-billed Quelea	2
Southern Red Bishop	67
White-throated Canary	2
Lark-like Bunting	61
Cape White-eye	7
Southern Grey-headed Sparrow	1
Total for 28 species	302

BDI-style Bird Species Texts

We are aiming to make it easier for beginner birders! Key to this is the production of “BDI-style” species texts on the BDI website. Each of the texts starts with an annotated photograph like this one for the Helmeted Guineafowl:

The BDI-style texts do not only focus on identification but provides all sorts of interesting information; to see the full text for this species, click here.

We added texts for five species during November 2023:

Three-banded Plover – BirdPix No. 265474 – image by **Ansie Dee Reis**.

New Biodiversity Observations Papers in November 2023

Biodiversity Observations is an Open Access ejournal which focuses on the publication of descriptive papers which report observations relating to biodiversity. There is a summary of the activities of the journal for the period 2010-2022 here.

The graph below shows that Biodiversity Observations had its second best month ever for number of papers downloaded; 3069 downloads of papers were made. November didn’t quite manage to sneak ahead of October, which are 3173 downloads, 104 more.

One of the most recent papers takes a look at the increase in abundance of Chukar Partridges Alectoris chukar and Fiery-necked Nightjars Caprimulgus pectoralis on Robben Island.

Chukar Partridge taking a stroll along the Faure Jetty on Robben Island. BirdPix Record 27667.

The near complete removal of feral cats Felis catus was one of five major drivers of change at Robben Island in the first decades of the 21st century. This new paper in BO demonstrates that the abundance of Chukar Partridge and of Fiery-necked Nightjar has increased during this period. You can read and download the paper (for free) here.

A group of Chukar Partridges seen on Robben Island.

The second paper published in Biodiversity Observations in November was entitled “Record of Progressive Greying in Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis in Nigeria”. The website from which you download the paper is here. There is a plethora of terms which describe non-standard colour forms of birds. This paper helps unravel the complexity!

Bird Ringing

Bird ringing remains one of the most important research methods for discovering some of the most important basic information about each species. Conservation initiatives need a lot of information. Two key factors to understand are rates of survival and extent of movement. There is a discussion about the value of ringing here.

European Bee-eater ringed during the RAVE at Botuin, Vanrhynsdorp – November 2023.

There are three ringing courses planned for 2024. They are:

31 January to 6 February at BoTuin, Vanrhynsdorp, Western Cape
1 to 7 May at Ouberg Private Nature Reserve, Montagu, Western Cape
09 to 15 September at New Holme Lodge, near Hanover, Northern Cape.
More details are here. There is a broad description of the course activities here.

Archive/Biodiversity/Bird ringing/Birding/BirdPix/Birds/Citizen Science/Vanrhynsdorp/Virtual Museum

RAVE (Ringing, Atlasing, Virtual-museuming Expedition) : Days 1 to 4 (27 to 30 November 2023)

Posted on 01/12/2023 by Les Underhill

The first data collection spot on the RAVE was the low level bridge across the Olifants River, a kilometer from the turnoff to Algeria on the N7 from Cape Town north towards Namibia. These low level bridges are precious to OdonataMAPpers, because you get close to the river. We found only two of the 17 species recorded for this grid cell (3218BD Oliewenboskraal). They were the two most common species, Red-veined Dropwing (left below) and Navy Dropwing (right below).

Both dragonflies were pointing their abdomens towards the sun to minimize the amount of solar heating. It was a warm day!

Ringing

On the first four days of the RAVE, Monday 27 to Thursday 30 December, the ringers handled a total of 302 birds of 28 different species. The numbers of each species are in the table here:

Species	Number ringed
Three-banded Plover	1
Laughing Dove	19
Namaqua Dove	1
White-backed Mousebird	3
Red-faced Mousebird	4
European Bee-eater	1
Southern Grey Tit	2
Red-eyed Bulbul	2
Familiar Chat	2
Cape Robin-chat	3
Karoo Scrub Robin	5
Lesser Swamp Warbler	2
Namaqua Warbler	1
Chestnut-vented Warbler	2
Fiscal Flycatcher	3
Cape Wagtail	1
Southern Fiscal	5
Southern Double-collared Sunbird	8
House Sparrow	7
Cape Sparrow	73
Cape Weaver	7
Southern Masked Weaver	10
Red-billed Quelea	2
Southern Red Bishop	67
White-throated Canary	2
Lark-like Bunting	61
Cape White-eye	7
Southern Grey-headed Sparrow	1
Total for 28 species	302

The species with BDI-style texts are highlighted in red. Click on the species name and you get taken to the species text.

The standout species were Cape Sparrow (73), Southern Red Bishop (67) and Lark-like Bunting (61). So almost exactly two-thirds of the birds belonged to just three species. From a sciency perspective,these three species will provide the most valuable data. The total number of Lark-like Buntings ringed on previous ringing trips to Botuin is seven. Birding in the district suggests that there has been an irruption of this species into this area, probably because the past winter has been the wettest in decades, so that conditions were good for breeding. Overall, across all species, a larger proportion of the birds we have handled have been juveniles. The past breeding season was productive.

Of the 25 species with small numbers handled, the most interesting was probably the Red-billed Quelea (which ought not to be here). From the “ooh-aah” perspective, the European Bee-eater was the most spectacular:

Virtual Museum

On the first days of the RAVE, contributions have been made to LepiMAP, OdonataMAP, ReptileMAP and BirdPix.

These records of Cape Wagtail, Capped Wheatear and African Sacred Ibis were made at the rubbish dump which we need to pass through on the way to the Vanrhynsdorp Sewage Works.

To read about Days 5, 6 and 7 of RAVE, go here!

Archive/Bird identification/Birding/Birds

Southern Red Bishop (Euplectes orix)

Posted on 28/11/2023 by Ryan Tippett

Cover image by Lia Steen – Lake Chrissie, Mpumalanga – BirdPix No. 236

Identification

The Southern Red Bishop is one of the most distinctively plumaged birds in the region. In its scarlet and black breeding plumage, this is probably one of the most familiar southern African birds.

Southern Red Bishop (*Euplectes orix*)
Umgeni Valley Nature Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal
Photo by Dave Rimmer

The Southern Red Bishop is sexually dimorphic with females looking quite different to the breeding males.

Breeding males are entirely black and bright red. Their foreheads, face and throat are black. The black face mask is encircled by red on the crown, hind neck and upper breast. The extent of black on the forecrown and throat varies individually. The mantle is red with a slight brownish wash, while the rump and upper tail coverts are deep red to orange-red. There is a considerable amount of variation in colour intensity between individuals. The lower breast and belly is black and the under tail coverts are red. The eyes, legs and feet are brown and the bill is black.

Southern Red Bishop (*Euplectes orix*) male starting to develop his breeding plumage.
Thurlow Nature Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal
Photo by Malcolm Robinson

Non-breeding males have a pale buffy supercilium that contrasts with the brown lores, cheeks and ear coverts. The upper parts are buffy brown and the feathers have dark brown central streaks. The throat is whitish and the breast and flanks are buff coloured with dark brown streaking. The rest of the underparts are creamy-white. The bill, legs and feet are brown.

Adult females resemble the non-breeding males but show less heavy streaking on the breast and flanks.

Juveniles resemble females but have broad buffy margins to the feathers on the upper parts. The underparts are buff-coloured.

Southern Red Bishop (*Euplectes orix*)
Lufafa Valley, KwaZulu-Natal
Photo by Malcolm Robinson

The Southern Red Bishop is unlike any other bird in southern Africa, except for the Black-winged Bishop (Euplectes hordeaceus) which, in southern Africa, occurs only in north-eastern Zimbabwe and adjoining Mozambique. Breeding males of the latter are larger, with black (not brown) wings and tails and a mainly red (not black) forehead.

Females and non-breeding birds are frequently overlooked or misidentified. This problem is compounded by the communal flocking and roosting behaviour of this species with other similar seed-eating birds.

Status and Distribution

The Southern Red Bishop is Locally common to abundant, especially in the Western Cape and the grasslands of the eastern plateau of South Africa and Zimbabwe.

The Southern Red Bishop is distributed from south-western Kenya and southern Uganda across to Angola and throughout southern Africa. Within southern Africa it is localised in Namibia, and north-western and south-eastern Botswana. It is strangely uncommon in the Okavango Delta and is mostly absent from large parts of the Kalahari. The Southern Red Bishop is more wide-ranging in Zimbabwe, South Africa, eSwatini and Lesotho. This species is also quite localised in Mozambique, occurring mainly along river systems.

Crop farming and the construction of dams have allowed the Southern Red Bishop to greatly increase its distribution and abundance. Conversely, the draining of wetlands and the loss of reedbeds have caused some local reductions in numbers.

The crop-raiding habits of the Southern Red Bishop can bring it into conflict with farmers. It is an unprotected pest species in the Western Cape and in cereal and grain growing areas. Despite this, the Southern Red Bishop remains common and is not under threat.

SABAP2 distribution map for **Southern Red Bishop** (*Euplectes orix*) – November 2023.
Details for map interpretation can be found here.

Habitat

Southern Red Bishops breed in reedbeds in marshes and around rivers and dams, even small isolated patches of reeds or bulrushes. Away from breeding areas they are primarily a grassland species. However, the Southern Red Bishop inhabits a range of other vegetation types too, from savanna to the Karoo, fynbos and forest edge, provided there is enough grassy habitat in which to forage and access to reedbeds for breeding.

The Southern Red Bishop is closely associated with agriculture in many areas, especially where crops are well irrigated. It is often abundant in these areas.

Occasionally forages along the coast in the intertidal zone where they feed on kelp flies and small crustaceans among the washed up seaweed and other debris.

Behaviour

The Southern Red Bishop is gregarious throughout the year, forming large flocks in the non-breeding season, often with other seed-eating species like sparrows, canaries, weavers, queleas and other Euplectes species. Regularly bathes and drinks water, especially in arid areas. Southern Red Bishops typically roosts in reedbeds, often with other related species.

Southern Red Bishop (*Euplectes orix*)
Klerksdorp, North West
Photo by Tony Archer

Feeds in flocks, both on the ground and perched in vegetation. They mainly consume grass and crop seeds, and other plant material. Invertebrates make up a relatively small part of the diet. Invertebrate food includes beetles and their larvae, caterpillars, dragonflies termites and spiders. Termite alates are caught on the ground or hawked aerially. They are also known to take small amounts of nectar.

Southern Red Bishop (*Euplectes orix*)
Near Belfast, Mpumalanga
Photo by Derek Kennedy

Southern Red Bishops are colonial nesters, usually in reeds (Phragmites spp) and Bulrushes (Typha capensis). They are highly territorial, establishing small territories averaging 8 square meters in size. Males defend their territories against conspecifics and against the males of other Bishop, Widow and Weaver species. Males spend much time giving threat displays along their territory boundaries, by fanning their tails, stretching their necks and raising the red feathers surrounding the black face mask. Males may occasionally fight, sometimes falling together into the water below their nests. Once their territory boundaries become established the aggressive behaviour decreases.

Southern Red Bishop (*Euplectes orix*)
Near Malgas, Western Cape
Photo by Johan and Estelle van Rooyen

When a female enters a territory, the courting male approaches in Bumble-flight with all body feathers raised, but especially the crown, rump and belly. He then perches and continues to display with his feathers raised. Copulation occurs after the female approves the nest he has built.

Southern Red Bishops are polygynous (males mate with multiple females during the breeding season), and successful males often attract 3 to 8 females.

Southern Red Bishop (*Euplectes orix*)
Morelata Kloof Nature Reserve, Gauteng
Photo by Pieter Cronje

Nests are constructed entirely by the males and they can produce up to 13 nests per season. It usually takes the males 2 to 3 days to build a nest but they can sometimes complete one within 24 hours. The nest is a tightly woven, upright oval, made from strips of reed leaves or grass blades. The nest is made with a side-top entrance under a porch. Nest entrances are often orientated away from the direction of the prevailing rain. The female adds the nest lining, composed of plant down and grass seed-heads.

In the winter rainfall region of South Africa, the breeding season is largely from August to December. Breeding starts later in the summer rainfall regions, mainly from October to March. Breeding is later still in Namibia and Zimbabwe and runs from December to April.

Southern Red Bishop (*Euplectes orix*)
Settlers Park, Gqeberha, Eastern Cape
Photo by Jorrie Jordaan

1 to 5 eggs are laid per clutch, usually laid on successive days. The eggs are usually plain, pale bluish green to turquoise in colour. Incubation generally starts before clutch completion and lasts for around 12 days. Incubation is performed solely by the female. The newly hatched young are fed by the female only, on regurgitated insects and seeds. The nestlings are ready to leave the nest about 15 days later. Southern Red Bishops are sometimes double brooded particularly if the first clutch fails. Predation is the main cause of breeding failure in the Southern Red Bishop. Known nest predators for this species include Rats, Monitor lizards, snakes, various Mongoose species and other birds such as the Burchell’s Coucal (Centropus burchelli).

Southern Red Bishop (*Euplectes orix*)
Albert Falls Nature Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal
Photo by Malcolm Robinson

Southern Red Bishop broods are regularly parasitised by the Diderick Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx caprius). However, male bishops regularly attack Cuckoos near breeding colonies. Their defensive efforts are quite successful as high rates of parasitism are found only at small colonies.

Further Resources

Species text adapted from the first Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP1), 1997.

The use of photographs by Dave Rimmer, Derek Kennedy, Johan and Estelle van Rooyen, Jorrie Jordaan, Lia Steen, Malcolm Robinson, Pieter Cronje, Rowan Poortier and Tony Archer is acknowledged.

Virtual Museum (BirdPix > Search VM > By Scientific or Common Name).

Other common names: Rooivink (Afrikaans); iBomvana (Zulu); Intakomlilo (Xhosa); Thaga (Tswana); Oryxweber (German); Euplecte ignicolore (French); Grenadierwever (Dutch); Cardeal-tecelão-vermelho (Portuguese).

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM 2023. Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at http://thebdi.org/2023/03/20/orange-river-white-eye-zosterops-pallidus/

List of bird species in this format is available here.

Bird identification, birding