Cover image. Gurney’s Sugarbird by Colin Summergill – Carter’s Hill, KwaZulu-Natal – BirdPix No. 252816 

Identification

The Gurney’s Sugarbird is an interesting and attractive species, resembling an overgrown sunbird. The sexes are alike in colouration and plumage but males are larger and longer tailed.

The head and face are distinctively marked. The forehead and forecrown are russet-brown and the hind crown, neck, lores and ear coverts are greyish-brown. The chin, throat and supercilium are buffy white, and malar stripes are very indistinct or absent. The upper breast is warm, rufous-brown and the lower breast and belly is white, with long, blackish streaks, especially towards the flanks. The vent is bright yellow and conspicuous. The rump is greenish-yellow and best seen in flight. The dark brown tail is long and graduated with a wedge-shaped tip. The bill is black, long and slightly decurved.

Juveniles resemble females but have a plain brown breast (not warm rufous) and the vent is dull yellow.

The Gurney’s Sugarbird is distinctive and unlikely to be mistaken for any other species, with the exception perhaps of the Cape Sugarbird (Promerops cafer). Gurney’s Sugarbird is smaller, shorter tailed and more richly coloured than its Cape relative. The two species have almost exclusive distributions which overlap marginally in the Eastern Cape.

Status and Distribution

Gurney’s Sugarbird is uncommon to locally common and is endemic to Southern Africa. Its distribution is closely linked to that of the Silver Protea (Protea roupelliae). The core of its range lies along the eastern Drakensberg escarpment from the Eastern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal, extending into the high mountains of the eastern Free State. Scattered populations occur on the mountains between north-central Limpopo Province and north-western Eswatini (Swaziland), including the Waterberg and Soutpansberg ranges. There is an isolated population in the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe and adjacent Mozambique. Historically, its range overlapped with the Cape Sugarbird in the Amatole Mountains, Eastern Cape.

The Gurney’s Sugarbird is not currently threatened, but its Protea-savanna habitat is at risk from afforestation. Commercial protea farming in KwaZulu-Natal Midlands provides additional habitat, but the damage caused by birds to flowers could lead to control measures being taken.

Habitat

The Gurney’s Sugarbird inhabits montane grassland and scrub in with Protea, Aloe and Strelitzia spp, including areas adjoining Afromontane forest. Distribution in South Africa largely coincides with that of Silver Protea (Protea roupelliae). Often found in gardens and stands of proteas on flower farms in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.

Behaviour

Usually encountered solitarily or in pairs, but sometimes in loose groups at a rich food source. Gurney’s Sugarbird is largely sedentary, but moves locally during the non-breeding season. This is either in response to food availability and the flowering phenology of proteas, or moving to lower altitudes in winter.

Gurney’s Sugarbird feeds mainly on the nectar of Protea species but also from a wide range of tubular-shaped flowers such as Aloes, coral-trees (Erythrina spp), bottlebrushes (Greyia spp), Tree-fuchsia (Halleria lucida), torch lilies (Kniphofia sp), wild daggas (Leonotis spp.) etc. Also takes invertebrates like beetles, bees, ants and spiders and sometimes also consumes pollen.

This species is monogamous and strongly territorial during the breeding season which normally coincides with the peak flowering time of Protea species. The breeding season runs from June to February in KwaZulu-Natal, from November to February in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, and from July to April in Zimbabwe. Males actively chase off rivals and any other nectar-feeding species during this time.

The nest is constructed by the female only with the male staying nearby to protect the territory and nest site. The nest is a loose bowl of twigs, rootlets, grass and bark fibres and is lined with soft grass and the fluffy heads of Protea seeds. The nest is most often situated 1 to 3 m above the ground amongst the branches of Silver Protea (Protea roupelliae) or Common Protea (Protea caffra) trees.

One or two sandy-brown eggs are laid per clutch and incubation begins once the second egg has been laid. The female is responsible for all the incubation duties and the incubation period lasts from 16 to 28 days. The nestlings are fed and cared for by both parents.

Further Resources

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

The use of photographs by Alan Manson, Colin Summersgill, Dawie De Swardt, Greg Goosen, Gregg Darling, Ilse Hulme and Pamela Kleiman is acknowledged.

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

Other common names: Kaapse suikervoël (Afrikaans); Promérops du Cap (French); Kaapse Suikervogel (Dutch), Kap-Honigfresser (German), Papa-açúcar do Cabo (Portuguese)

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM 2023. Gurney’s Sugarbird Promerops gurneyi. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at http://thebdi.org/2023/08/30/gurneys-sugarbird-promerops-gurneyi/

Bird identification, birding

Cover image by Marna Buys – Kirstenbosch, Western Cape – BirdPix No. 61050 Cape Sugarbird

Identification

The Cape Sugarbird is a very distinctive species, resembling an overgrown and long-tailed sunbird.

The sexes are alike in plumage colouration but males are larger and have much longer tails. The tail length in adult males varies considerably and can be up to 3 times the length of the body.

The upperparts are brown with indistinct darker blotches or streaks, especially on the mantle. There is a prominent malar stripe on the lower face with a white stripe above it. The chin and throat are off-white and the upper breast is brown with feint paler mottling. The lower breast and belly are greyish-white with distinct brownish-black streaking. The vent is bright yellow and conspicuous. In flight they show a greenish-yellow rump. The dark brown tail is long (very long in males), graduated and ribbon-like.

Juveniles resemble females in having shorter tails but they are duller with browner underparts and lack the yellow vent of the adults.

The Cape Sugarbird is easily recognisable and not easily mistaken for any other species. The closely related Gurney’s Sugarbird (Promerops gurneyi) is smaller with bolder patterning, richer colouration, and a shorter tail. The ranges of the two species overlap very marginally in the Eastern Cape.

Status and Distribution

The Cape Sugarbird is a common resident or local-nomad and is endemic to South Africa and the Fynbos Biome. It is restricted to the Western and Eastern Cape provinces. It ranges from near Calvinia and Nieuwoudtville at the north-western edge of its distribution, across to near East London and the Amatola Mountains at the eastern edge of its range.

Habitat

The Cape Sugarbird is virtually restricted to the Fynbos Biome and is the quintessential fynbos bird.

It is sometimes attracted to suburban gardens or patches of alien vegetation, however, its occurrence in other vegetation types is usually due to that habitat being close to Fynbos, or of transient birds moving from one fynbos patch to another. Generally reluctant to leave fynbos, except in response to fire.

Within its chosen habitat, the Cape Sugarbird occurs almost exclusively in places with an abundance of Proteas (Family Proteaceae), often in hilly or mountainous areas.

Behaviour

The Cape Sugarbird is largely sedentary, but becomes nomadic during the non-breeding season, moving locally in response to food availability. The flight is fast and direct with the tail streaming out behind.

During the breeding season the Cape Sugarbird is most often encountered solitarily or in pairs. However, they may be found in groups of up to 12 at a rich food supply during the non-breeding season.

Forages arboreally in shrubs and bushes, probing Protea flowers and those of other plant species for nectar and insects. Most probing is done while perched but may hover on occasion.

Cape Sugarbirds are strongly dependent on protea nectar and may visit up to 300 flowers per day to meet its energy requirements. It is by far the most important pollinator of many Protea species, even more so than sunbirds. Aside from proteas, sugarbirds will consume nectar from many other plant species including exotic and alien plants.

Cape Sugarbirds supplement their diet with a range of insects and other invertebrates. These are captured by probing vegetation or hawking insects in flight. Large insect prey is killed by slapping them against a branch with quick, sideways head movements. Recorded invertebrate prey includes beetles, bees, flies, ants, wasps, aphids, moths, termite alates and spiders.

Highly territorial during the breeding season. At this time males become aggressive towards conspecifics as well as sunbirds, actively chasing them away from food sources. Females often assist in territorial defence. Potential predators like Southern Boubou (Laniarius ferrugineus), Bokmakierie (Telophorus zeylonus) and Southern Fiscal (Lanius collaris) are also chased off aggresively.

The Cape Sugarbird is monogamous and prior to egg laying the male becomes very protective towards the female and seldom strays far from her side.

The nest is built entirely by the female and is normally placed around 1m above the ground in dense foliage where the nest is well hidden. The nest is a shallow, loose bowl made from twigs, plant stems, rootlets and grass. The bowl is lined with brown protea fluff and bound in place with fine plant fibres.

1 or 2 eggs are laid per clutch, mainly between March and August (peak March-June). This winter breeding peak is closely linked to the main flowering time of proteas. The eggs are Cream to pale buff or pinkish white, marked with grey, brown, purple-black or glossy black blotches, streaks or spots.

Incubation starts after the second egg has been laid and all incubation is done by the female. The incubation period lasts for around 17 days. During this time the male remains nearby to protect the nest, either by noisily mobbing potential predators or by performing a distraction display to lure threats away from the nest site.

The nestlings are fed and cared for by both parents and are provided with food for around 15 days after fledging. The female chases fully fledged offspring from the territory after 21 days or so.

Cape Sugarbirds are multi-brooded meaning they will attempt to breed more than once in a single breeding season. In fact the female may start a new clutch while still with dependent offspring.

Further Resources

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

The use of photographs by David Kennedy, Gerald Wingate, Gregg Darling, Itxaso Quintana, Johan and Estelle van Rooyen, John Todd, Les Underhill, Marna Buys, Philip Nieuwoudt, Stuart Shearer and Tino Herselman is acknowledged.

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

Other common names: Kaapse suikervoël (Afrikaans); Promérops du Cap (French); Kaapse Suikervogel (Dutch), Kap-Honigfresser (German), Papa-açúcar do Cabo (Portuguese)

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM 2023. Cape Sugarbird Promerops cafer. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at http://thebdi.org/2023/08/26/cape-sugarbird-promerops-cafer/

Bird identification, birding

Cover image of Common Bulbul by Lia Steen – Shellybeach, KwaZulu-Natal

Identification

The Common or Dark-capped Bulbul is a distinctive and easily recognisable species. The head is black and contrasts with the grey neck and breast. The rest of the upperparts are dusky grey-brown. The underparts are a paler greyish-white and the vent is bright-yellow. The eye is dark brown with a narrow black eye ring.

The sexes are alike and juveniles look similar but with duller plumage.

The Common Bulbul can only be mistaken for the African Red-eyed Bulbul (Pycnonotus nigricans) and the Cape Bulbul (Pycnonotus capensis). The Common Bulbul is easily separated by its black, not red or white eye ring.

Status and Distribution

The Common Bulbul is a common to locally abundant resident. It is widespread across Africa, avoiding only the arid regions. In Southern Africa it is found in the moister eastern parts from the Eastern Cape, throughout KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Limpopo. It is also found throughout southern Mozambique and Zimbabwe and the northern and eastern parts of Botswana and Namibia’s Caprivi Strip.

The Common Bulbul is not a conservation priority because it is common and widespread, and has benefited from its association with humans.

Habitat

The Common Bulbul occupies a wide range of habitats. These include moister woodland and savanna, riverine bush, forest edge and regenerating forest (but not normally the forest interior), dense montane scrub, alien tree plantations, orchards, gardens, and parks. The Common Bulbul flourishes in suburban habitats where it is usually one of the most abundant bird species.

Behaviour

The Common Bulbul is usually encountered in pairs or loose groups particularly at good food sources like fruiting trees. They are highly vocal and conspicuous and become tame around human habitation. The Common Bulbul is a regular and noisy participant in mixed-species mobbing parties and is quick to spot snakes and other predators. Common Bulbuls are known to practise ‘anting’ by crouching among ants with the tail and wings spread. They drink and bathe regularly.

The diet consists mostly of fruit, nectar and a range of insects and other invertebrates. Gleans insects and picks fruits from trees and shrubs and occasionally takes fallen food from the ground. Also feeds at bird tables and regularly forages around picnic sites and camping grounds.

Common Bulbuls are monogamous and become strongly territorial during the breeding season, which takes place during Spring and Summer.

The nest is a neat, strong, thin-walled cup of dry grass, rootlets and small twigs, bound on the outer edge with a thin layer of spider web. The interior is lined with fine plant fibres, animal hair, and other similar materials. The nest is built entirely by the female but the male remains close by, often singing from nearby trees or bushes. The nest is placed on a branch, or slung between twigs in a fork, and attached with spider web. It is generally situated in a tree canopy away from the trunk and is usually hidden by vegetation.

2 to 3 eggs are laid per clutch. The eggs are either brown, pink or white with brown, red or purplish spotting or streaks. Markings vary in size, density and distribution. Incubation begins after clutch completion and lasts for 12 to 15 days. Incubation duties are performed almost exclusively by the female. The Male feeds the female on the nest and generally remains nearby, calling frequently. Later, both adults feed the chicks. The pair maintain contact when foraging, and return together to the nest. The nestling period lasts for 11 to 16 days. Chicks can barely fly when they leave the nest, remaining bunched together in nearby foliage for a few days before starting to follow their parents. Common Bulbuls are probably single-brooded. Broods are frequently parasitised by Jacobin Cuckoos, and occasionally by the African Emerald, Klaas’s, Diderick, and Red-chested Cuckoos.

Further Resources

Species text in the first Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP1), 1997. At this time the scientific name was Pycnonotus barbatus.

The use of photographs by Ansie Dee Reis, Carel van der Merwe, Jon Blanco, Lappies Labuschagne, Sybrand Venter, Tino Herselman and Tony Archer is acknowledged.

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

Other common names: Dark-capped Bulbul, Black-eyed Bulbul (Alternative English); Swartoogtiptol (Afrikaans); iPhothwe (Zulu); Ikhwebula (Xhosa); Bokota (Tswana); Bulbul aux yeux noirs, Bulbul tricolore (French); Grauwe Buulbuul (Dutch); Gelbsteißbülbül, Graubülbül (German); Tuta-negra (Portuguese)

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM 2023. Common Bulbul Pycnonotus tricolor. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2023/08/23/common-bulbul-pycnonotus-tricolor/

List of bird species in this format is available here.

Bird identification, birding

Cover image of African Red-eyed Bulbul by Jon Blanco – Karoo Gariep Nature Reserve, Northern Cape

Identification

The African Red-eyed Bulbul is an easily recognisable species. Its most distinguishing feature is the red eye wattle, which is diagnostic. The head is black and contrasts with the grey neck and breast. The rest of the upperparts are dusky grey-brown. The underparts are paler greyish-white and the vent is bright-yellow.

The sexes are alike and juveniles look similar but have duller plumage.

The African Red-eyed Bulbul can only be mistaken for the Common Bulbul Pycnonotus tricolor and the Cape Bulbul Pycnonotus capensis. The Dark-capped Bulbul, has a black, not red eye ring, and less contrast between the dark breast and white belly. The Cape Bulbul has a broader, white eye ring, and plain sooty brown underparts. The African Red-eyed Bulbul is known to hybridise with the Common Bulbul and Cape Bulbul in areas of overlap.

Status and Distribution

The African Red-eyed Bulbul is a common to abundant resident and is near-endemic to Southern Africa. Its range extends beyond the sub-region into south-western Angola and extreme southern Zambia. It is widespread in the central and western regions of Southern Africa, occurring virtually throughout Namibia and Botswana. In Zimbabwe it is found only in the far west of the country. It occurs in the central and western parts of South Africa where it is widespread.

Habitat

The African Red-eyed Bulbul occurs in dry woodland, arid savanna, thickets, Karoo scrub, riverine bush, orchards, gardens and farmyards. It is generally found in drier habitats than other bulbuls, but regularly gathers near water during the dry season.

Replaces Dark-capped and Cape Bulbuls in arid and semi-arid regions and across a wide range of habitats.

Behaviour

The African Red-eyed Bulbul is usually encountered in pairs or small, loose groups. They are noisy and conspicuous, with continuous, excited contact calling from large groups gathered at fruiting trees. Flicks its wings and tail when alarmed or excited. They are prominent in mixed-species bird parties where they mob predators such as snakes and small owls. Becomes tame in gardens and camp sites, regularly visiting feeders and bird baths. Drinks regularly and is never far from water in arid country.

It forages in pairs or large, noisy groups with other fruit-eating species in trees and shrubs, but occasionally takes food from the ground. The African Red-eyed Bulbul feeds on a wide variety of wild and cultivated fruits. They are also known to eat flower petals and will probe aloe flowers and those of other plants for nectar. It also consumes a variety of arthropods, flying up to hawk insects above trees or shrubs and darts after insects flushed from foliage.

The African Red-eyed Bulbul is a monogamous species. Pair members often perch in close contact, frequently allopreening around head area. The nest is usually built only by the female and is a flimsy-looking cup of dry grass, thin twigs, rootlets and other fine plant fibres. The nest is bound together with spider web and is lined with grass fibres. The nest is placed in the fork of a bush or tree and is usually well hidden.

Two or three eggs are laid per clutch and the eggs are pinkish white with red-brown speckles. Incubation begins with the first laid egg and the incubation period lasts from 12 to 13 days. All incubation duties are performed by the female. Hatchlings are fed and cared for by both parents. The nestling period lasts around 12 days and young birds can already fly competently after 18 days or so. Broods are regularly parasitised by the Jacobin Cuckoo.

Further Resources

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

The use of photographs by Ansie Dee Reis, Carel van der Merwe, Jon Blanco, Lappies Labuschagne, Sybrand Venter, Tino Herselman and Tony Archer is acknowledged.

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

Other common names: Rooioogtiptol (Afrikaans); Rramorutiakolê (Tswana); Bulbul brunoir (French); Maskerbuulbuul (Dutch); Maskenbülbül (German); Tuta-de-olhos-vermelhos (Portuguese).

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM 2023. African Red-eyed Bulbul Pycnonotus nigricans. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at http://thebdi.org/2023/08/16/african-red-eyed-bulbul-pycnonotus-nigricans/

List of bird species in this format is available here.

Bird identification, birding

Cover image of Bokmakierie by Ryan Tippett – Carnarvon District, Northern Cape – BirdPix No. 114349

Identification

The Bokmakierie should be familiar to many due to its bright colours, loud, ringing vocalisations and its willingness to adapt to suburban parks and gardens.

Adults are brightly coloured with an eye-catching black gorget (throat/neck band) that contrasts with the bright yellow throat and supercilium.

The crown, nape and ear coverts are grey. Upperparts, including the mantle, back and rump are olive green. The lower breast and belly are bright yellow with grey flanks.

The tail pattern is striking. The tail feathers are black with broad yellow tips forming a broad yellow terminal band at the tip of the tail. The central tail feathers, from base to tip are olive-green. This tail pattern is most obvious when in flight.

The bill is strong with a hooked tip and the legs are dark grey. The sexes are alike in plumage colouration.

Juveniles are dull olive green above. The breast is greyish-green while the flanks and belly are dull yellowish green with grey barring. They have a greyish face and lack the adults yellow supercilium, black gorget and yellow throat. Juveniles share the same tail markings as the adults.

The Bokmakierie superficially resembles the Yellow-throated Longclaw (Macronyx croceus) and both have a black gorget (throat/neck band) and yellow underparts. However, the Bokmakierie has a uniform green back (not scaled brown as in the longclaw) and a stout hooked bill.

Status and Distribution

Generally common where it occurs. The Bokmakierie is near-endemic to Southern Africa, extending a short distance into south-western Angola. It is widespread in South Africa, and occurs in all provinces, although it is marginal in Limpopo. There is an isolated population of Bokmakieries in the Chimanimani Mountains of Zimbabwe and neighbouring Mozambique.

It is unlikely that the distribution of the Bokmakierie has changed in the historical past. It is not considered threatened and its preferred habitats, for the most part, do not coincide with prime agricultural land. This species has benefitted from the establishment of parks and gardens in suburbia.

Habitat

The Bokmakierie is most prevalent in scrubby habitats and is most abundant in the Karoo, Fynbos and Grassland biomes. It favours habitats with scattered shrubs or trees in open areas, including dune scrub, renosterveld, Nama and Succulent Karoo, Protea scrub, grasslands with bush clumps, bushy, boulder-strewn hillsides, alien tree plantations and orchards and vineyards. In the Karoo, the Bokmakierie favours wooded drainage lines, but also occurs commonly in open shrublands and around farmyards. The Bokmakierie readily enters parks and gardens in built-up areas.

It largely avoids woodlands with the exception of Valley Bushveld in the Eastern Cape in which it is common. However, around the edges of its range in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, eSwatini and North West Province, it occurs at low densities in light mixed woodlands and savanna.

The Bokmakierie has been recorded from the coast to around 3000 m above sea level.

Behaviour

The Bokmakierie calls frequently and has a loud ringing call that can be heard up to two kilometres away. They have a complex and diverse repertoire of vocalisations including duets and a mix of other harsh vocalisations.

Generally resident and sedentary throughout its range. There is, however, evidence of some altitudinal migration in the Lesotho highlands and the Drakensberg Mountains of KwaZulu-Natal. Here they may move seasonally away from high altitudes to find food and to avoid winter frost and snowfalls.

The Bokmakierie is usually encountered in pairs, or in family groups of 3. They are partly terrestrial and spend much of their time foraging on the ground. They run or hop quickly between cover or when capturing prey. They also glean food from twigs and foliage and occasionally hawk flying insects, especially termite alates.

Mainly feeds on invertebrates but some vertebrate prey is also captured. Consumes a wide range of insects including but not limited to grasshoppers, beetles, antlions, caterpillars, mantids, stick insects, termites, ants, plant bugs and flies. Other invertebrates taken include spiders, centipedes, millipedes, snails and earthworms. Vertebrate prey consists of lizards, geckos, chameleons, small snakes, frogs and small birds. The diet is also supplemented with small fruit and berries when available.

Large or awkward food items are wedged between forked branches to allow the bird to dismember its prey or to tear off pieces.

Pairs are strongly territorial and can be very conspicuous in boundary disputes and involve pairs confronting each other with duetting, much posturing, exaggerated bobbing movements, wing-flicking and tail-fanning. They are often attracted to reflective surfaces such as windows and car rear-view mirrors where they ‘shadowbox’ their own image, often accompanied by guttural croaking sounds.

The Bokmakierie is monogamous and mate fidelity is strong due to well developed duets between the pair. These serve to strengthen and maintain partnership bonds. Males advertise their control of a territory by singing loudly from an elevated perch.

The nest is built by both sexes and is usually well hidden in dense foliage. The nest a neat, open cup, made from small twigs, leaves, grass and other fine plant material. Breeding can take place year-round, usually with a spring peak during August. They lay between two and six blueish eggs per clutch. Incubation starts upon completion of the clutch and incubation duties are shared by both sexes. The nestling period lasts for around 20 days Bokmakieries are usually double-brooded, meaning that they will attempt to breed more than once during the season. Some broods may, on occasion, be parasitised by the Jacobin Cuckoo (Clamator jacobinus).

Further Resources

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

The use of photographs by Alison Sharp, A.M. Archer, Gregg Darling, Lance Robinson and Pamela Kleiman is acknowledged.

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

Other common names: Bokmakierie (Afrikaans); iNkovu (Zulu); Ingqwangi (Xhosa); Pjempjete (South Sotho); Gladiateur bacbakiri (French); Bokmakierie-klauwier (Dutch); Bokmakiri (German); Boquemaquire (Portuguese).

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM 2023. Bokmakierie Telophorus zeylonus. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at http://thebdi.org/2023/08/07/bokmakierie-telophorus-zeylonus-2/

Bird identification, birding

Cover image Greater Kestrel by Sybrand Venter – Carnarvon district, Northern Cape – BirdPix No. 246605

Identification

The Greater Kestrel is a smallish, attractively marked raptor. It is, however, the largest Kestrel species in Southern Africa.

The overall colouration of the head and body is light ginger-brown covered in black barring, blotches, bands and streaks. The head, throat and neck are finely streaked. The streaks become bolder and more prominent on the breast and belly while the flanks are densely barred. The back is strongly marked with thick black barring and the tail is grey with broad black bands.

The head appears fairly large and rounded. The legs and bare skin around the eyes and cere are yellow and the bill is horn-grey. Adults have striking pale coloured eyes.

In flight the Greater Kestrel shows heavily barred upper wings and a grey and black banded tail. The under wings are white with indistinct, grey-barred flight feathers.

The sexes are alike in plumage but they differ in size, the females are slightly larger than males.

The juveniles resemble the adults but have dark-coloured (not pale grey) eyes. They are generally darker rufous in colour and have larger black markings than the adults.

The Greater Kestrel is most likely to be mistaken for females and juveniles of the Rock Kestrel (Falco rupicolis) and Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni). Both are smaller and slimmer than the Greater Kestrel and have smaller, less rounded looking heads.

Distribution

The Greater Kestrel is locally common throughout its range. It has a disjunct distribution in the drier regions of Southern and East Africa. It occurs patchily in East Africa from northern Tanzania, up through Kenya to Ethiopia and Sudan. It is More widespread in Southern Africa, occurring over a large part of western and central South Africa and throughout Namibia and Botswana. It is sparsely distributed in Zimbabwe, western Zambia and eastern Angola.

In South Africa it has been recorded from all provinces but avoids the Lowveld and the higher rainfall, low-lying eastern and southern coastal regions.

The distribution of the Greater Kestrel is believed to have expanded due to the clearing of woodlands for cultivation. However the loss of natural grasslands to agriculture and bush encroachment could be a concern. The Greater Kestrel is not considered threatened.

Habitat

The Greater Kestrel is a bird of open, arid and semi-arid areas ranging from desert scrub to dry, open woodlands and grassland. It is most abundant in the Kalahari and Karoo vegetation types. It is also widespread in the grasslands of central South Africa but is less numerous. The Greater Kestrel prefers open veld with short vegetation and moderate to low rainfall. Also occurs in cultivated areas in north-eastern South Africa where it is expanding its distribution.

Behaviour

Greater Kestrels are normally found singly or in pairs and sometimes in loose groups of several birds. Perches conspicuously on whatever vantage points are available, such as termite mounds, trees, and telephone poles, pylons and fences. Advertises to conspecifics that a territory is occupied by perching conspicuously. The flight is bouyant, interspersed with flapping and gliding. Seldom soars but frequently hovers in windy conditions.

Most hunting is done from a perch but they also hunt aerially, usually by hovering into the wind. Prey is generally captured on the ground but may occasionally catch small birds, termite alates and locusts in flight. Males tend to perch-hunt more often than females, and females have better hunting success from hovering than males.

The majority of the Greater Kestrels diet consists of invertebrates especially locusts, grasshoppers, solifugids and termites. They also consume small reptiles like lizards, chameleons and snakes, as well as birds such as quails, doves and small passerines. Mammalian prey consists mostly of rodents. Greater Kestrels are not known to drink or bathe.

The Greater Kestrel breeds from August to December with a peak during September and October. Most egg laying takes place just before the Summer rains in order to maximise prey availability during the nestling period.

Pairs are monogamous and show strong mate fidelity. They do not construct their own nests and prefer to use old stick nests of other raptors or crows. They are dependant on these other species for nests which may limit the distribution of breeding birds. The pair actively defend the area around their nest against conspecifics, other raptor species and corvids (crows and ravens).

From 1 to 5 (usually 3 or 4) eggs are laid per clutch. The eggs are cream or buff coloured with variable reddish-brown speckling. Incubation starts with the first laid egg, as at some nests there is a distinct difference in the age and development of the young. The incubation period lasts for 32 to 33 days and is performed mostly by the female.

Both parents provision the chicks with food. Females tend to hunt close to the nest and mostly capture insects, while males hunt further afield and bring larger prey such as rodents back to the nest. The young are fully fledged after 32 to 35 days but remain dependant on their parents for at least 30 days after their first flight.

Further Resources

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

The use of photographs by Ansie Dee Reis, David Kennedy, Gregg Darling, Josu Meléndez, Phillip Nieuwoudt, Sybrand Venter and Tino Herselman is acknowledged.

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

Other common names: Grootrooivalk (Afrikaans); Phakalane (Tswana); Grote Torenvalk (Dutch); Crécerelle aux yeux blancs (French); Steppenfalke (German); Peneireiro-grande (Portuguese).

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

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM 2023. Greater Kestrel Falco rupicoloides. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at http://thebdi.org/2023/07/26/greater-kestrel-falco-rupicoloides/

Bird identification, birding

Cover image of Pale Chanting Goshawk by Ryan Tippett – Carnarvon district, Northern Cape – BirdPix No. 60801

Identification

The Pale Chanting Goshawk is a fairly large and conspicuous all-grey raptor.

The overall colouration is ash grey. The underparts, are whitish with fine grey barring while the upperparts are grey and unmarked. Bare skin, including the legs, cere and gape is bright pinkish-red to orange-red, and quite eye-catching. The legs are un-feathered and relatively long

In flight the Pale Chanting Goshawk shows black wing tips and a white rump. The underwings are light grey and the secondaries are pale and finely barred. There is a pale wing panel on the upper wing which is often visible when perched.

The sexes are alike in plumage but they differ in size, the females being noticeably larger than males.

The juveniles are brown above with paler buff-tipped feathers. The head is grey-brown with darker brown streaks. Under parts are blotched and barred in brown and buff. Like the adults, juveniles have a white rump which is most obvious in flight. The legs and bare skin are orangish becoming brighter and redder with age.

The Pale Chanting Goshawk is most likely to be mistaken for the Dark Chanting Goshawk Melierax metabates. They tend to prefer different habitats but their ranges do overlap in the northern parts of the Limpopo province, in eastern and northern Botswana and northern Namibia. The Pale Chanting Goshawk is slightly larger and has paler grey upperparts. The two are best told apart in flight. The Pale Chanting Goshawk has a white rump and a pale panel or window in the upper wing, whereas, the Dark Chanting Goshawk has a grey rump and dark wing panel. Juveniles are harder to tell apart but those of the Pale Chanting Goshawk are a little paler with a white rump and Dark Chanting Goshawk juveniles show a barred or mottled rump.

Distribution

The Pale Chanting Goshawk is a common species across its distribution. It is Near-endemic to Southern Africa, its range only reaching beyond Southern Africa into south-western Angola.

It is restricted to the western and central regions of Southern Africa, mainly Namibia, Botswana and western South Africa. Its range extends marginally to western Zimbabwe and north-eastern South Africa, especially along the Limpopo Valley.

Habitat

Pale Chanting Goshawks occur in arid and semi-arid areas, especially the Karoo and Kalahari vegetation types. It is present in parts of the Namib Desert and also inhabits drier woodland and grasslands. It is typically a bird of open scrub and wooded drainage lines. They prefer flat terrain and require areas of open ground with places to perch.

Behaviour

Pale Chanting Goshawks are normally found singly or in pairs, and occasionally in family groups of five or more birds. They are not easily overlooked owing to their habit of perching prominently in the open on trees, bushes, telephone poles, fences and so on. Roadside telephone poles are favoured perches because they are often the tallest vantage points in their habitat and provide easy opportunities for scavenging at road-kills.

Pale Chanting Goshawks spend the vast majority of their time perched. Research has shown that they may spend as much as 75 to 89% of their time sitting. They frequently soar at midday.

Most hunting is done from a perch and they are known to change perch sites frequently. Sometimes forages on foot and may even run after insects and rodents. It has a broad diet and feeds on invertebrates (mainly insects and arachnids), reptiles including snakes, birds up to the size of korhaans and mammals up to the size of hares. They are fond of carrion and regularly feed on road kills. They can sometimes be observed following Honey Badgers and the Yellow Mongoose in the hope of snatching disturbed rodents and insects.

Drinks water only on very hot days.

Breeding takes place mainly during spring and Summer (September to December) when food is most abundant. They may not breed at all during drought periods.

The nest is is a modest stick platform up to 40cm in diameter and is built by both sexes. The bowl of the nest is lined with an odd assortment of items that may include hair, dung, soil clods, bits of animal skin, ostrich feathers, grass, small bird nests and spider webs. They often use man-made items such as string, rope, old rags and bits of plastic when nesting close to roads or human habitation. Nests are most frequently placed in thorn trees but they may also nest on telephone poles in treeless regions.

Females lay one or two plain white to greenish-white eggs per clutch. Incubation duties are performed mostly by the female and the incubation period lasts for around 35 days. The young are fed mostly by the female although the male does most of the hunting at this time.

The pair are active in defence of the nest area and males in particular are quite focused on this during the breeding period. They defend the nest area from other raptors, crows, herons, mongooses and other mammalian predators. They will harass and dive at intruders and sometimes even make contact by striking with the feet.

Young birds remain in the parental territory for up to two years but they are not tolerated at or near the nest during subsequent breeding efforts.

Further Resources

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

The use of photographs by Andrew Keys, Anthony Paton, Dawie De Swardt, Desire Darling, Kyle Finn, Les Underhill, Phillip Nieuwoudt and Vaughan Jessnitz is acknowledged.

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

Other common names: Bleeksingvalk (Afrikaans); Zanghavik (Dutch); Autour chanteur (French); Weißbürzel-Singhabicht, Heller Grauflügelhabicht (German); Açor-cantor-pálido (Portuguese).

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM 2023. Pale Chanting Goshawk Melierax canorus. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at http://thebdi.org/2023/07/21/pale-chanting-goshawk-melierax-canorus/

List of bird species in this format is available here.

Bird identification, birding