Cover image of Southern Boubou by Pieter la Grange

The Southern Boubou belongs to the Bushshrike family MALACONOTIDAE. Other members of this group include Tchagra’s, Bushshrikes, Puffbacks, and Gonoleks. They are smallish passerine birds with robust bodies, strong legs and feet, and formidable shrike-like bills. Many are very colourful and most species are rather secretive. The majority occur in woodlands, but also in marshes, scrub and Afromontane or tropical forest. They were formerly classed with the true shrikes in the family Laniidae, but are now considered sufficiently distinctive to be separated from that group. The family is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa but is completely absent from Madagascar. The name Malaconotidae alludes to their fluffy back and rump feathers.

Identification

The Southern Boubou is a tri-coloured bushshrike with a distinctive call. It is sexually dimorphic, the sexes differ slightly in plumage colouration.

Adult males have glossy black upperparts, including the top and sides of the head, back, wings, and tail, with a conspicuous white stripe on the folded wing. The underwing coverts are cream coloured. The underparts, including the chin, throat and breast are white. The flanks are orange-yellow to rufous. The thighs and lower belly are rufous, turning rich cinnamon-rufous on the vent and lower flanks.

Females are much like males but the forehead down to the mantle is dark grey and they have more extensively rufous underparts. In both sexes the bill is black and strong with a hooked tip, and the legs are dark grey. Males have black eyes while those of the female are brown. Juvenile birds resemble the adult female, but carry variable buff and dusky streaking above and their underparts are barred rufous.

Within its range the Southern Boubou is only likely to be mistaken for the Tropical Boubou (Laniarius major), but that species has pinkish (not rufous) underparts. The two species sometimes hybridise where their ranges meet in the Limpopo River valley.

Status and Distribution

The Southern Boubou is a common to locally common resident. It is endemic to southern Africa and is confined to the moister eastern and southern parts. The Southern Boubou is found throughout southern Mozambique and very marginally in south-eastern Botswana and southern Zimbabwe. It is widespread in South Africa, occurring virtually throughout the northern, eastern and southern parts of the country.

The Southern Boubou is not threatened. There is no evidence to suggest that its distribution has changed much in recent times. However, the Southern BouBou is likely to have benefitted from the spread of alien scrub and thickets in some areas.

Habitat

The Southern Boubou inhabits the dense tangled undergrowth of most forest and woodland types in within its range, from sea level to high altitudes. It occupies montane forest, coastal forest and thicket, riverine forest and scrub, mangroves, gardens and alien plantations. In drier areas it is confined to thickets along watercourses. In open woodland and grassland habitats the Southern Boubou occurs in thickets and along drainage lines.

Behaviour

The Southern Boubou is a resident and sedentary species throughout its range. Pairs appear to remain within the same territory for life. The Southern Boubou is mostly encountered singly or in pairs. They are rather secretive, scuttling through vegetation and the woody undergrowth of thickets.

By virtue of its skulking habits, the Southern Boubou is more often heard than seen. Its calls are distinctive, far-carrying, and well known. The calls incorporate a varied repertoire of highly developed duets. The flight is heavy and slow, with shallow, rapid wing-beats.

They mainly search for food on the ground by hopping and leaf tossing, usually keeping to the shade under vegetation. They seldom move into the open. The Southern Boubou also forages on the lower branches and trunks in the under-story, investigating holes and pulling away bits of bark for prey. Also hawks flying insects on occasion.

The Southern Boubou feeds mainly on insects like beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, wasps, bees, and ants. They are partial to snails, and also consume ticks, earthworms and other invertebrates. The Southern Boubou is known to eat small mice and reptiles such as geckos, as well as bird eggs and nestlings. Aloe nectar, small fruits, seeds and fresh shoots are also eaten in season. Around human habitation they will feed on scraps like discarded bread crumbs, grain and porridge.

Bee stings are rubbed off against a branch, and hairy caterpillars are vigorously rubbed against a branch or in sand before being eaten. Snail shells are broken open by repeatedly banging it against a branch. They may even wedge snails in a tree fork before tearing out the flesh. They also probably impale prey on thorns from time to time in the same manner as true shrikes (Lanius spp.), after all, the Boubou Genus Laniarius also means ‘butcher Bird’.

The Southern Boubou breeds from September to December in the north and east of its range. Breeding starts slightly earlier in the winter-rainfall region, from August to December.

The Southern Boubou is monogamous and pairs nest solitarily. They are territorial and will aggressively defend their territory, even plundering the nests of other species breeding close by.

The nest is an untidy, shallow bowl of roots, twigs and grass bound together with spider web. The female builds the nest by herself. It is usually well hidden in a dense bush, tree branch or creeper, rarely in an exposed, leafless fork. Most nests are located within 2m of the ground.

2 to 3 eggs are laid per clutch. Eggs are pale greenish white, lightly speckled with browns and greys. The incubation period lasts for 16 or 17 days and is done by both sexes. Once the eggs hatch the eggshells are either eaten or carried away by the adults. Newly hatched young are altricial and are blind and naked. The nestlings faecal sacs are also either eaten or carried away. The nestling period takes around 17 days. Fledglings do not return to the nest but remain dependent on their parents for up to 8 weeks. The Southern Boubou is sometimes double-brooded.

The Southern Boubou is occasionally parasitised by the Black Cuckoo (Cuculus clamosus) and less often by Jacobin Cuckoo (Clamator jacobinus).

Further Resources

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

The use of photographs by Alex Briggs, Andrew Hodgson, Andrew Keys, Colin Summersgill, Daryl de Beer, Gareth Yearsley, Gregg Darling, Janet du Plooy, Johan Heyns, Neels Putter, Pamela Kleiman, Philip Nieuwoudt, Pieter Cronje, and Pieter la Grange is acknowledged.

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

Other common names: Suidelike waterfiskaal (Afrikaans); iBhoboni, iGqumusha (Zulu); Igqubusha (Xhosa); Gonolek boubou (French); Waterfiskaal (Dutch); Flötenwürger (German); Picanço-ferrugíneo (Portuguese).

List of bird species in this format is available here.

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM 2025. Southern Boubou Laniarius ferrugineus.  Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2025/01/23/southern-boubou-laniarius-ferrugineus/

Bird identification, birding

Cover image of Burchell’s Coucal by Pieter Cronje

Coucals along with Cuckoos and Malkohas belong to the family CUCULIDAE. Globally, the family also includes Roadrunners, Anis, Koels, and Couas. It is a rather diverse family of smallish to fairly large birds with varied plumage. All species have zygodactyl feet and relatively long and heavy tails. Their bills are arched along the top and may be narrow, or deep and stout. Most species are arboreal, but a few are terrestrial. The true Cuckoos are brood parasitic, but all others in the family raise and care for their own young. The group has a cosmopolitan distribution, although most species are found in the tropics.

Identification

Coucals are relatively unusual among birds in having zygocactylous feet (2 toes pointing forwards, and 2 toes pointing backwards) to aid in clambering through dense vegetation. They also have specially adapted, long claws on the hind toes (the genus name Centropus refers to this and means ‘spike foot’) which are thought to spread the birds weight as they clamber over and through loose vegetation.

Burchell’s Coucal sexes are alike, although females are larger than males. They are predominantly tri-coloured in rich rufous, black and off-white. The Crown and face down to the upper mantle is plain black with a glossy tinge. The back and folded wings are chestnut. The rump and upper tail coverts are brown with fine buff-brown barring. The tail is relatively long and glossy black. The underparts are off-white, often with fine brown barring on the flanks and around the vent. There is noticeable white quill ‘streaking’ on the sides of the neck and upper flanks which is more conspicuous in birds from the southern parts of its range. The wings, above and below, are entirely rich rufous. The strong, arched bill is black, the eyes are red and the legs and feet are blue-grey to black.

Juvenile and immature birds have quite different plumage to the adults. Initially, as juveniles, the head and mantle are buff-coloured with off-white streaking, sometimes with white feather shafts. The rump and tail are dark matt brown with fine, dense barring. The wings are rufous with dense dark brown barring and the underparts are buff-brown and often barred. Later, immature birds develop an off-white eyebrow (supercilium) and have orange (not red) eyes. The barring on the back and wings is slowly lost with age, as is the supercilium. The underparts change from buffy-brown to off-white.

There are 3 other similarly plumaged coucals in southern Africa. However, the range of the Burchell’s Coucal only overlaps with that of Senegal Coucal (Centropus senegalensis), reducing the risk of confusion. The adult Senegal Coucal lacks the fine barring at the base of the tail and on the upper tail coverts and rump. Juveniles of the two species are problematic to identify and are likely indistinguishable in the field.

Status and Distribution

The Burchell’s Coucal is a fairly common to common resident and is near-endemic to Southern Africa. The distribution stretches from south-eastern Tanzania south through Mozambique, eastern Zimbabwe, to south-eastern Botswana, and most of South Africa to the south Western Cape. The Burchell’s Coucal avoids the more arid western and central parts of southern Africa, except for a narrow strip along the Orange River. It is also generally scarce at higher altitudes.

The Burchell’s Coucal has expanded its range into the south-western Cape in recent years where it is now fairly common. This has been aided by its tolerance of a wide range of rank habitats, including well-wooded gardens. However, the continued loss and degradation of wetlands is likely to reduce habitat. The Burchell’s Coucal is not Threatened.

Habitat

The Burchell’s Coucal inhabits, dense, tangled growth and rank vegetation including, thickets, reedbeds, coastal bush, and forest edge. It favours riparian margins and drainage lines, and the ecotones between wetlands and adjoining woodland, forest or grassland. It is also common in and adjacent to sugar cane fields and well-vegetated suburban gardens. The Burchell’s Coucal mostly occurs in areas where rainfall exceeds 600 mm per year.

Behaviour

The Burchell’s Coucal is usually found in pairs or solitarily. It is a sedentary, resident species but may occasionally wander short distances into better habitat after fires or when wetlands dry up. They are partly crepuscular and most active in the early morning or during overcast and rainy weather. The colloquial name of ‘Rain Bird’ is fitting.

Skulks in dense vegetation and clambers adeptly through vegetation. They often run on the ground between habitat patches, including crossing roads. Burchells Coucals are generally reluctant to fly. The flight appears heavy or laboured with alternate flapping and gliding before crashing, somewhat clumsily into dense vegetation. The Burchell’s Coucal is reportedly also able to swim when necessary.

They are often shy and weary and seldom seen unless flying between thickets or perched on top of a bush or post. The Burchell’s Coucal is more often heard than seen. Their loud, liquid or bubbling call is heard most frequently in the early morning and before, during and after rain, but may continue throughout the day and on moonlit nights. They are largely silent outside of the breeding season. The Burchell’s Coucal bathes regularly in pools or wet vegetation and also sunbathes by drooping the wings and fanning the tail while perched on top of a bush.

The bill is strong and robust with a small hooked tip to kill and dismember their prey. Females have a longer and heavier bill than the males, this ensures that the sexes exploit different prey items, reducing competition for food. The Burchell’s Coucal slowly searches the ground and vegetation for prey. It is a rapacious predator that will devour any smaller creature it can overpower. Small prey is swallowed whole, but larger prey is broken into pieces or pulverised by pecking. Snails are beaten against a stone, tree root or similar hard object to break the shell. Hunts mice by stalking them like a cat and takes the chicks of domestic chickens in the same way. The Burchell’s Coucal is major predator of bird eggs and nestlings which they remove directly from nests. They are also drawn to fires to catch injured or fleeing animals.

They consume a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate prey. Invertebrates eaten include grasshoppers, locusts, crickets, mantids, bugs, beetles, moths, centipedes, scorpions, spiders, woodlice, crabs, and snails. Vertebrate prey includes chameleons, lizards, small snakes, frogs and toads, mice, shrews, young mole-rats, nestling birds, and adult birds up to the size of Laughing dove (Spilopelia senegalensis). Burchell’s Coucals are also known to take adult birds caught in mist nets! On occasion the Burchell’s Coucal will also eats fruits and berries.

The Burchell’s Coucal is normally monogamous and pairs nest solitarily with nests widely spaced. However, it is the female who calls from a perch to advertise territory during the breeding season. This role reversal combined with the females larger size, suggests possible facultative polyandry. Facultative means optionally or flexibly in response to circumstances. This is a mating strategy wherein normally monogamous females mate with more than one male within a breeding period due to environmental pressures. The exact factors that may cause this in the Burchell’s Coucal seems to not be fully understood.

The Burchell’s Coucal builds an unusual bulky, oval-shaped nest. It is a dome or ball up to 38cm high and up to 30cm wide. It has a circular entrance hole near the top on one side. Nests are sometimes also built without a roof. The nest is well concealed despite its size, and placed in the leafy foliage of a tree, bush, creeper, or dense stand of grass or reeds. It is typically situated 1 to 3 m above the ground, rarely at ground level. The nest is built by by both sexes or sometimes by the male only. Long, coarse strands of dry grass are used in its construction, which are roughly woven or curled around to form the ball. The interior cup is lined with finer grass and leaves. Further green leaves are added to the lining during incubation.

Eggs are laid between August and January across its range, even in the winter rainfall region. Egg laying peaks between October and December. Eggs are occasionally also laid in other months. 3 to 5 plain white eggs are usually laid per clutch at 1 to 3 day intervals. The incubation and nestling period is relatively short. Incubation lasts for 15 to 16 days and is performed by both sexes but the majority is done by the male. Incubation starts with the first laid egg and results in asynchronous hatching.

The nestlings are unique, having black skin and stiff, hair-like white down. They hiss when threatened or touched and void foul-smelling excreta if handled. The chicks legs develop quickly enabling them to run and clamber, and to leave the nest early. The young leave the nest at 14 to 21 days, long before they are able to fly. After leaving the nest the young are tended and cared for by both sexes. During very hot conditions the parents may regurgitate water for the chicks to drink.

A replacement clutch is often laid if the eggs or brood are lost early in the breeding process. Voluntary brood reduction may be enacted when food is scarce, with smaller, weaker nestlings being neglected to the point of starvation. The Burchell’s Coucal is multiple brooded during good conditions.

Further Resources

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

The use of photographs by Cameron Meyer, Claudia Risch, Desire Darling, Gordon Neubert, Gregg Darling, John Cox, Malcolm Robinson, Mark Stanton, Pieter Cronje, Rebecca Ackermann, Tino Herselman and Tony Archer is acknowledged.

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

Other common names: Gewone vleiloerie (Afrikaans); uFukwe, umGugwane (Zulu); Ubikhwe (Xhosa); Burrchell-spoorkoekoek (Dutch); Coucal de Burchell (French); Tiputip (German); Cucal de Burchell (Portuguese).

List of species available in this format.

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM 2025. Burchell’s Coucal Centropus burchellii. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2025/01/15/burchells-coucal-centropus-burchellii/

Bird identification, birding

Cover image of Spur-winged Goose by Ryan Tippett – Carnarvon district, Northern Cape

The Spur-winged Goose belongs to the family ANATIDAE comprising Ducks, Geese, and Swans. They are medium to very large water birds. They have broad, flattened bills with a curved nail at the tip of the upper mandible. They have robust bodies and moderate to very long necks. Their wings are relatively short, narrow and pointed while the tail is generally short. All have short but robust legs that are set far back on the body and fully webbed feet.

Identification

The Spur-winged Goose is a large, conspicuous, and distinctive water bird. It is the largest member of the family Anatidae in southern Africa.

The sexes are quite similar but males are larger than females. Adults are unmistakable. The head, flanks and upperparts are black with a green to violet iridescence, especially on the wings and back. The head and neck feathers are edged in brown. The face, chin, and throat carry varying amounts of white. The underparts are white, narrower on the breast and widening onto the belly and undertail coverts. In flight the wings show white forewings (axillaries, lesser coverts, and underwing coverts) and the flight feathers are glossy black. The amount of white on the wing is variable and is sometimes also visible when the wings are closed. There is also a large and prominent carpal spur on the wing.

The bare skin of the forecrown, forehead, cheeks and eye ring is usually pinkish to red and the cheek skin is variably mottled emerald and turquoise. Males usually have a dull red frontal knob that varies in size. The facial skin and frontal knob become brighter, and the knob becomes more swollen when breeding. Some also have a small bare red or orange patch on the side of the upper neck. The bill is deep pinkish red, and the nail-tip is whitish. The eyes are dark brown and the legs and feet are pink to deep pinkish red.

Females are very similar to the males, but their dark plumage is less iridescent and the bare facial skin is duller and less extensive.

Juveniles and immatures of both sexes lack bare facial skin and frontal knobs. Additionally, the face, neck, and lower body is browner than in adults. They also have no white on the face and less, or none, on the wings and underparts.

The Spur-winged Goose is not likely to be confused for any other species. Its very large size and bold black and white colouration are unmistakable.

Status and Distribution

The Spur-winged Goose is a locally common to very common resident with some local movement in the non-breeding season. It is distributed throughout the Afrotropics, except for the most densely forested parts of central Africa, the Lesotho plateau and the arid south-western parts of southern Africa. It extends northwards across Africa into southern Egypt, but is absent from Madagascar. The Spur-winged Goose is widespread in southern Africa but scarce in the more arid parts of the Northern Cape, southwestern Botswana, and Namibia except for the Caprivi Strip.

The Spur-winged Goose is not threatened. The negative impact of the loss of natural wetlands is largely offset by the benefits of dam-building and as a result may have increased its range into drier regions. It is sometimes regarded as an agricultural pest and has been utilising agricultural crops since the early early 1900s. The damage they cause to crops is occasionally significant but their overall impact is considered negligible.

Habitat

The Spur-winged goose inhabits a range of wetland habitats including floodplains, lakes, dams, pans, marshes, and to a lesser extent rivers and estuaries. They prefer larger inland waterbodies especially dams on which to gather for moulting. The Spur-winged Goose forages in a variety of habitats including dry or flooded grasslands, in the shallow waters of permanent or seasonal water bodies, and commonly in cultivated fields, usually not far from water.

Behaviour

The Spur-winged Goose is generally nomadic in response to rain and the seasonal cultivation of their favoured food crops. They are generally found in pairs or small groups when breeding, but are otherwise highly gregarious and flocks of moulting birds can number up to 2000 birds. The Spur-winged Goose is usually shy and weary. Flies to the nearest water when disturbed, often settling far from shore. Disturbed birds in flightless moult move onto open water and dive if closely approached.

Male Spur-winged Geese may raise their wings in a threat display to reveal the white shoulders and carpal spurs. An attacking male will spread or flaps his wings, often with the mouth agape. The carpal spurs are used for fighting and in self defence. The Spur-winged Goose mostly roosts on dead trees or sometimes on electricity pylons. Flocks fly in staggered lines or sometimes in ‘V- shaped’ echelons, and their wings make a loud ‘swooshing’ sound in flight.

Foraging flights away from wetlands usually take place in the early morning and early evening. They may stay away from wetlands all day and occasionally all night during the wet season, when they may stay at temporary pools.

Most foraging takes place in the morning, evening or at night. On land the Spur-winged Goose grazes plant shoots or pecks at food and scratches for grubs with the bill. In water they submerge the head and neck, or sometimes up-ending, usually after raking the muddy substrate with the feet. They also filter-feed as they move about on the water. Birds in flightless moult sometimes come ashore at night to graze.

The Spur-winged Goose is omnivorous, but the bulk of the diet is made up of plant matter such as rhizomes, corms, leaves, seeds, and algae. They eat the ripe kernels and seedlings of grain crops, including maize, wheat, oats, barley, sorghum, etc. They also eat lucerne and the leaves, stems and tubers of potatoes and sweet potatoes. Peanuts, sunflower seeds, rice and over-ripe fallen fruit are also consumed. Some animal matter is also eaten, including termite alates, bugs, caterpillars, beetles and their larvae, etc. Young Spur-winged Geese are known catch small fish by diving. The Spur-winged Goose also swallows grit to help the gizzard grind up food. They are known to sometimes associate with Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) in order to feed on disturbed plant matter and invertebrates.

Breeding data from across southern Africa indicates that the Spur-winged Goose mainly breeds from August to April with a peak between December and March. It generally breeds during the rainy season but egg laying has been recorded in all months. They can be either monogamous or polygynous breeders.

The nest is a hollow on the ground, lined with grass and down feathers, and is built by the female. It is usually located in dense vegetation near water like tall grass, reed clumps or on a termite mound. They sometimes also nest on top of Sociable Weaver (Philetairus socius), Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta) or African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) nests. On rare occasions they may nest in tree holes, on cliffs or in Aardvark burrows.

The Spur-winged Goose usually lays 6 to 12 eggs, rarely up to 27. Clutches over 12 eggs are probably laid by more than one female. Incubation is done by the female only and lasts for 32 to 36 days. Eggs are laid at 1 day intervals and incubation begins only once the full clutch has been laid. The eggs are covered with down when the female leaves the nest to feed. The vast majority of broods are attended by the female only. Females with small ducklings become very secretive, swimming low on the surface to lead their brood into cover when disturbed. Young birds take anywhere from 85 to 100 days to fledge and stay with the female until at least the following breeding season.

Further Resources

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

The use of photographs by Crystelle Wilson, Dave Rimmer, Dieter Oschadleus, Garth Aiston, Gerald Gaigher, Lia Steen, Malcolm Robinson, Rene Navarro and Tino Herselman is acknowledged.

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

Other common names: Wildemakou (Afrikaans); iHophe, iHoye (Zulu); lhoye (Xhosa); Sekwagongwana (Tswana); Spoorwiekgans (Dutch); Oie-armée de Gambie (French); Sporengans (German); Pato-ferrão (Portuguese)

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

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM 2025. Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2025/01/10/spur-winged-goose-plectropterus-gambensis/

Bird identification, birding

Cover image of Red-headed Finch by Ryan Tippett – Carnarvon district, Northern Cape

The Red-headed Finch belongs to the family ESTRILDIDAE, along with twinspots, firefinches, waxbills, pytilias, and mannikins, etc. They are all small, seed-eating passerine birds. They are gregarious and often colonial granivores with short, conical, but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but vary widely in plumage colour and patterns. Despite the word “finch” being included in the common names of some species, they are not closely related to birds with this name in other families.

Identification

The Red-headed Finch is a small, gregarious species with clear sexual dimorphism.

Males are easily recognised by their bright red heads, heavy, conical bills, and white scale-like spotting on the undersides. The red head fades to orangish-red when the feathers are old and worn. The mantle, back and folded wings are greyish brown. On the folded wings there are two lines of white spots formed by the pale-tipped covert feathers. The rump is darker grey-brown and faintly barred. The upper tail coverts carry dark subterminal bars with whitish tips. The tail is also greyish-brown with white outer tail tips.

The breast and flanks are tawny-brown with scattered white spots, each outlined in black, giving a scaled or scalloped appearance. The lower belly is white and the under-tail coverts are barred black, white and brown.

Females resemble the males but differ in having a plain brownish-grey head, (sometimes with a hint of red on the hind crown and nape). The underparts are tawny-brown and uniformly barred in dark brown, lacking the black-edged white spots of the male. Juveniles are similar to their respective adults, but are duller. The juvenile male only shows traces of red on the head.

In both sexes the heavy, conical bill is pale horn-coloured. The eyes brown and the legs and feet are pinkish brown.

Male Red-headed Finch are most likely to be mistaken for the Red-headed Quelea (Quelea erythrops), but the latter lacks the distinctive scalloped spotting on the underparts. Females most resemble the Cut-throat Finch (Amadina fasciata) but that species has a barred (not plain) crown and nape, and a conspicuously mottled (not plain brown) mantle.

Status and Distribution

The Red-headed Finch is a common to very common resident and nomad. It is near-endemic to southern Africa.

It occurs from Luanda in Angola, south to South Africa. In southern Africa, the Red-headed Finch is widespread in Namibia, Botswana, and the central regions of South Africa. It is also found in south-western Zimbabwe where it is less common. The Red-headed Finch is virtually absent from the winter rainfall region and the more humid coastal areas and lowlands in the east.

The Red-headed Finch is not threatened. It has benefitted greatly from livestock watering points in arid areas and as a result has likely expanded its range in recent decades.

Habitat

The Red-headed Finch inhabits open desert grasslands, semi-arid and arid shrublands in Namibia and the Karoo, arid savanna, croplands and farmyards. Usually with scattered trees and bushes. The Red-headed Finch is also frequently found in urban areas. They may shift from more thickly wooded thornbush in the breeding season to more open habitats after breeding.

Behaviour

The Red-headed Finch is found in pairs or small groups when breeding. They are otherwise gregarious in well-coordinated flocks that may number into the hundreds. They are highly nomadic by nature, especially during dry periods, and eruptive when conditions are favourable. Often feeds and drinks in association with other seed-eating bird species. The Red-headed Finch is reliant on drinking water and drinks frequently, gathering at water holes in large flocks, often with other small granivores. The flight is fast and undulating, flying to perch in a tree, bush, or fence when disturbed.

The Red-headed Finch forages on the ground. They mainly eat seeds, favouring grass seeds, and will also eat small insects like termites.

The Red-headed Finch is a monogamous breeder and they either nest solitarily or in small colonies. Mostly reuses the old nests of various weavers and sparrows, including Cape Sparrow (Passer melanurus), Southern Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus), Chestnut Weaver (Ploceus rubiginosus), Sociable Weaver (Philetairus socius), White-browed Sparrow-weaver (Plocepasser mahali), and Red-billed Buffalo Weaver (Bubalornis niger). They sometimes also nest in tree holes or buildings. The Red-headed Finch occasionally also builds its own nest which is an untidy ball of grass and feathers placed in the branches of a thorny tree.

Egg-laying has been recorded throughout the year depending on rainfall, but most eggs are laid from February to September. Anywhere from 2 to 11 eggs are laid per clutch, (usually 4 to 6 eggs). The eggs are plain white and oval in shape. The incubation period takes 12 to 14 days and is performed by both sexes. The nestling period takes a further 15 to 21 days and the young are cared for and fed by both parents.

Further Resources

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

The use of photographs by Johan Van Rooyen, Karis Daniel, Sybrand Venter, and Tony Archer is acknowledged.

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

Other common names: Rooikopvink (Afrikaans); Rotkopfamadine (German); Amadine à tête rouge (French); Roodkopamandine (Dutch); Degolado-de-cabeça-vermelha (Portuguese).

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM 2025. Red-headed Finch Amadina erythrocephala. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2025/01/06/red-headed-finch-amadina-erythrocephala/

List of bird species in this format is available here.

Bird identification, birding

Cover image: Pied Kingfisher by Colin Summersgill – Albert Falls Nature Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal

Kingfishers belong to the family ALCEDINIDAE. They are small to medium-sized, brightly coloured birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species living in the tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Oceania, with just a handful of species found in Europe and the Americas. The family contains 118 species and is divided into three subfamilies and 19 genera. All kingfishers have large heads, long, sharp, pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails. Most species have bright plumage with only small differences between the sexes. Most species are tropical in distribution, and a slight majority are found only in forests. Despite the English name ‘Kingfisher’, the majority of species do not feed on fish.

Identification

The Pied Kingfisher is easy to identify as it is the only kingfisher in the region with entirely black-and-white plumage. It is the second largest African Kingfisher after the Giant Kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima).

The head is black with a conspicuous white supercilium and with a short crest. Pied Kingfishers have a relatively large-headed appearance when compared to the rest of the body. This is due in part to the long straight, and heavy black bill. The upper parts are mottled in black and white. The underparts are mainly white, often with Some dusky flecks on the flanks. The under-tail is predominantly black. The sexes can be differentiated by the black bands across the breast. Both sexes have a broad, upper breast-band that is usually (but not always incomplete). Males also have a second, thinner breast-band below (lacking in females). In both sexes the bill, legs and feet are black, and the eyes are dark brown.

Juveniles resemble the female but have a greyish-black breast band and the feathers on the face, throat, and breast have buffy edges.

The Pied Kingfisher is distinctive and conspicuous at all ages and is unlikely to be mistaken for any other species.

Status and Distribution

The Pied Kingfisher is a Locally common resident or local nomad in response to changing water levels. It has a very wide distribution and occurs throughout sub-Saharan Africa except the Horn of Africa and much of the south-west arid zone in southern Africa. The Pied Kingfisher is also present along the Nile River valley in Egypt. The distribution also extends across the Middle East and southern Asia to China.

The Pied Kingfisher is not threatened, and is well represented in protected areas. Some populations are locally impacted by the application of endosulfan to kill tsetse flies (Glossina spp), endosulfan also kills fish. Pied Kingfishers are also susceptible to other poisons used for killing both fish and Red-billed Queleas. The species has benefited widely from the construction of impoundments for irrigation and hydroelectric power.

Habitat

The Pied Kingfisher makes use of virtually any type of water body and its occurrence is entirely dependant on the presence of small fish. Chosen habitats include perennial streams, large rivers, lakes, ephemeral pans, temporarily flooded areas, estuaries, and rocky coastlines. They also inhabit man-made canals, dams, reservoirs, ornamental ponds and sewage works if fish are present. They are less common along well-wooded, fast-flowing streams. Pied Kingfishers are restricted to major rivers and impoundments in arid country. For breeding they require suitable banks for the excavation of nest tunnels.

Behaviour

The Pied Kingfisher is usually encountered solitarily, in pairs or loose family groups. They roost gregariously at night. Pied Kingfishers perch conspicuously in the open on an exposed branch, rock, pole, etc. They frequently raise and lower their tails when perched.

They bathe by diving, often repeatedly, before flying off to perch. They then shake vigorously before preening.

They hunt from a prominent perch over water, or frequently by hovering. The Pied Kingfisher hovers more efficiently and far more often than any other kingfisher. Hovering enables them to hunt over open water without perches and provides a competitive advantage over other kingfisher species. This allows them to hunt far (up to 3km) from shore. The Pied Kingfisher is thought to be the world’s largest bird capable of sustained hovering in still air. When hovering, the body is held almost vertically, with the head well forward. Pied Kingfishers hover more often in windy conditions.

The diet consists mainly of fish up to 26 g. Frogs and large tadpoles are eaten less frequently. Invertebrates are also consumed, including crustaceans, dragonflies and their larvae, water bugs, water beetles, and the occasional terrestrial insect like grasshoppers.

Fish are usually beaten to death on a branch or rock before being swallowed, head first to prevent fish spines snagging in the throat.

Pied Kingfishers are monogamous breeders. Around a third of all breeding pairs are facultative cooperative breeders, with up to 4 male helpers.

There are two distinct types of helpers. Primary helpers are the male offspring of previous breeding attempts that have failed to disperse or establish breeding territories of their own. They assist from the beginning, helping to defend the territory, and are vital to breeding success. Secondary helpers are also males. They are not related to the breeding pair and usually arrive after the eggs have hatched towards the end of the breeding attempt. They are typically unmated males or males whose breeding attempts have failed. Secondary helpers are initially chased away by the breeding pair and play a lesser role in the breeding success. Primary helpers have smaller testes and lower testosterone levels than the breeding male or the secondary males. They are therefore incapable of breeding, hence their greater commitment during the breeding cycle. Primary helpers have a lower survival rate than secondary helpers due to their efforts, but this cost is offset by ensuring that their own genes are passed on by helping to raise their siblings or half-siblings.

Pairs nest solitarily, but sometimes also in loose colonies. Pied Kingfishers are territorial with pairs and helpers defending the nest burrow and its immediate vicinity.

The nest is a burrow, up to 2.4 meters long, dug into a vertical sandbank. Nest tunnels are usually situated in the most inaccessible position available to reduce the threat of predation. Tunnels are excavated by both sexes. The soil is first loosened with the open bill and then kicked out with the feet. On average, the nest tunnel takes 26 days to complete, but can take anywhere from 11 to 77 days. At the end of the tunnel is an unlined nest chamber, usually around 300 mm long, 200 mm wide, 130 mm high.

Egg laying is recorded in all months but is somewhat dependant on local water levels. Most records in southern Africa are from August to November, except in the Okavango Delta, Botswana (May to June peak) due to the annual flood cycle.

Clutch size ranges from 1 to 7 eggs, although 4 to 6 eggs is the norm. The eggs are glossy and pure white in colour. Incubation begins with the first laid egg and lasts for 18 days. Incubation is performed by both sexes, but mostly by the female. During the breeding process, males will only feed their mates but helpers will feed both breeding birds.

The full clutch takes up to 3 days to hatch. The newly hatched young are altricial and are born blind and naked with pink skin. The nestling period takes 24 to 29 days. The nestlings are brooded by both sexes and sometimes also by the helpers. Young can shake and beat fish within 3 days of leaving the nest and start diving for prey within 14 days after fledging. However, the young are still fed by their parents and helpers for up to 2 months after leaving the nest. If there are no helpers, the young are fed almost equally by both adults. If helpers are present, the female does very little feeding or no feeding at all.

Clutches and broods of the Pied Kingfisher are often at risk from flooding, trampling, irregular incubation, and predation by ants, snakes, and mammals, particularly the Water Mongoose (Atilax paludinosus) which is a major predator of both young and adults. Nestlings of pairs without helpers have a reduced chance of survival and frequently starve to death. Pied Kingfishers will frequently re-lay after an early breeding failure.

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, Colin Summersgill, Dawie de Swardt, Dieter Oschadleus, Johan Van Rooyen Lia Steen, Marius Meiring, Neels Putter, Pamela Kleiman, Walter Jubber and Wiekus Moolman is acknowledged.

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

Other common names: Bontvisvanger (Afrikaans); iHIabahlabane, isiQuba, isiXula (Zulu); Isaxwila (Xhosa); N’waripetani, Xicelele (Tswana); Bonte Ijsvogel (Dutch); Alcyon pie, Martin-pêcheur pie (French); Graufischer (German); Pica-peixe-malhado (Portuguese).

List of species available in this format.

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM 2024. Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2024/05/23/malachite-kingfisher-alcedo-cristata/

Bird identification, birding

Cover image of Golden-breasted Bunting by Ansie Dee Reis – Dikhololo Resort, North West

Buntings belong to the Family: EMBERIZIDAE. The buntings are a group of Old World passerine birds forming the genus Emberiza, which is the only genus in the family. The family contains 44 species. They are seed-eating birds with stubby, conical bills, comparatively long tails, and short legs. The feet are relatively large for scratching on the ground.

Identification

The Golden-breasted Bunting is a small, colourful species with slight differences in plumage coloration between the sexes.

In adult males the forehead, lores, face, crown, nape and neck are black, with a white median crown stripe, a broad white supercilium and a shorter white moustachial stripe below the eye. There is a pale collar on the hind neck and the mantle and back are pinkish brown to chestnut, with blackish brown centres and pinkish-brown borders. The folded wings show two white wing bars. The rump is grey and the upper tail coverts are buffy grey while the tail is grey-brown, with white outer tail feathers.

On the undersides, the chin is pale yellowish-orange and the throat is rich yellow. The breast is golden orange, fading to rich yellow on the belly. The flanks are pale greyish olive or occasionally white. The thighs are rich yellow and the under tail coverts are white. The bill is two-toned with a blackish upper mandible and a pale greyish-pink lower mandible. The legs and feet are dull greyish-pink and the eyes are dark brown.

Females are similar to males, but their black head markings are suffused with brown. They are duller overall, including the chestnut back and wings. Juveniles resemble females but are duller with brown streaks on the breast.

In southern Africa, the Golden-breasted Bunting is only likely to be mistaken for Cabanis’s Bunting (Emberiza cabanisi). The latter lacks the white stripe below the eye and has white (not yellowish) sides to the throat. The back is greyish (not rufous) with black streaks and the breast is plain yellow (not golden-orange).

Status and Distribution

The Golden-breasted Bunting is a fairly common resident and local nomad. It is found throughout most of Sub-Saharan Africa but is absent from much of West Africa. The Golden-breasted Bunting is widespread in southern Africa except for southern and western Namibia, the south-western Kalahari, the semiarid and arid Karoo, and Western Cape fynbos.

The Golden-breasted Bunting has been able to colonise alien plantations in previously treeless grasslands. There is no evidence that the overall distribution has changed much in the recent past. The Golden-breasted Bunting is not threatened and remains a common and widespread species across its range.

Habitat

The Golden-breasted Bunting prefers open broadleaved woodlands as well as mixed woodlands and Savanna. It also inhabits dry woodlands along rivers, tall shrubland on stony or rocky ground, exotic plantations, farmyards, the edges of croplands, and gardens. It is less common in pure Vachellia/Senegalia (Acacia) woodlands. The Golden-breasted Bunting avoids tall, dense riverine woodland.

Behaviour

The Golden-breasted Bunting is unobtrusive, but not particularly shy. They are normally encountered singly, in pairs, or family groups during the breeding season. They are generally found in pairs or small flocks of up to 20 birds in the non-breeding season. The Golden-breasted Bunting is mostly resident but may become locally nomadic during the dry season when they may also form mixed species flocks with other buntings and canaries.

Golden-breasted Buntings forage on the ground (usually on bare patches) and in the canopies of shrubs and small trees. They are drawn to freshly burnt areas to take advantage of dead or injured insects and other food items. They walk with small steps but sometimes also hop. The flight is somewhat undulating.

The diet consists of flower buds, seeds, and insects, including small grasshoppers, beetles, termites, and ants. Occasionally takes grass seeds directly from seed heads on low-growing tufts. They have also been seen to peck at salt licks put out for cattle. Golden-breasted Buntings drink and bathe regularly.

The Golden-breasted Bunting is a monogamous, solitary nester and is not known to be territorial. Courtship displays involve the male singing from conspicuous perches and in bouncing ‘butterfly flight’ while singing. Males will also courtship-feed the female prior to copulation.

The nest is a fairly deep, loosely built cup of grass, pliable plant stems, tendrils, and leaf petioles. Lined with fine rootlets and hair. All nest construction is done by the female, but she is accompanied by the male on trips to gather material. The nest is typically placed 0.5 to 2.0 m above the ground on a horizontal fork in a bush or tree.

Nesting data all comes from October to May, with a November/December peak over most of the range. 2 to 5 (usually 2-3) eggs are laid per clutch. The eggs are either white, pale cream, pale greenish blue or pale bluish white, decorated with black, brown and grey spots and scrolled lines.

The incubation period takes up to 13 days and all incubation is performed by the female only. Newly hatched young have orange skin. The nestling period lasts for 16 to 17 days and the young are cared for by both adults. The nestlings are fed by both parents on regurgitated insects and some seeds. Fledglings out of the nest are known to be fed with small grasshoppers.

Golden-breasted Bunting broods are sometimes parasitised by Diederik Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx caprius).

Further Resources

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

The use of photographs by Ansie Dee Reis, Colin Summersgill, Derek Solomon, Gregg Darling, John Wilkinson, Jorrie Jordaan, Neels Putter, Philip Nieuwoudt, John Todd, Terry Terblanche, and Tino Herselman is acknowledged.

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

Other common names: Rooirugstreepkoppie (Afrikaans); umNdweza (Zulu); Intsasa (Xhosa); Mavotiyo (Tswana); Gelbbauchammer (German); Bruant à poitrine dorée (French); Goudborstgors, Acacia-gors (Dutch); Escrevedeira-de-peito-dourado (Portuguese).

List of bird species in this format is available here.

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM 2024. Golden-breasted Bunting Emberiza flaviventris. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2024/12/10/golden-breasted-bunting-emberiza-flaviventris/

Bird identification, birding

Cover image of Cape Bunting by Marna Buys – West Coast National Park, Western Cape

Buntings belong to the Family: EMBERIZIDAE. The buntings are a group of Old World passerine birds forming the genus Emberiza, which is the only genus in the family. The family contains 44 species. They are seed-eating birds with stubby, conical bills, comparatively long tails, and short legs. The feet are relatively large for scratching on the ground.

Identification

The Cape Bunting is a small, mostly grey, brown, and rufous species and the sexes differ slightly in plumage coloration.

Adult males have a grey forehead, nape, and crown with prominent blackish streaking. The supercilium is off-white and reaches from the bill to the nape. There is a strong blackish stripe through the eyes with an off-white stripe below, and another blackish-brown stripe below that, all extending from the bill to the base of the neck. The neck, mantle, and back are grey-brown with heavy blackish-brown streaks. The rump and upper tail coverts are rufous-brown and the tail is dark brown. The chin and throat are off-white and the rest of the undersides are mostly greyish brown fading to buff on the under tail coverts. The folded wings are rufous and are a key identification feature.

Adult females are similar to the males but have buffy (not off-white) head stripes. In both sexes the bill is dark greyish-black and the legs and feet are horn-coloured. The eyes are brown. Juveniles resemble the females but are duller and paler with brown streaks on the breast.

The Cape Bunting is most likely to be mistaken for the similarly sized Cinnamon-breasted Bunting (Emberiza tahapisi). However the latter has rich cinnamon (not grey) underparts and a white median crown stripe.

Status and Distribution

The Cape Bunting is a fairly common to common resident and local nomad. It is near-endemic to southern Africa. It is distributed from south-western Angola, western Zambia and Malawi down to South Africa. In southern Africa, the Cape Bunting occurs in western and central Namibia, eastern Botswana, central Zimbabwe and most of South Africa except for the lowveld, the east coast and the Kalahari Basin. The Cape Bunting is not known to occur in southern Mozambique.

There is no evidence of any recent changes to the Cape Bunting’s distribution and the species is not considered threatened.

Habitat

The Cape Bunting inhabits a wide variety of habitats across a broad altitudinal range. Chosen habitats range from coastal strandveld to sparse dwarf shrublands, and hilly fynbos, to open woodland and scrub along dry watercourses. The Cape Bunting will also make use of gardens in villages and on farms. It shows some preference for hilly and mountainous areas but is also common on flat plains. They are usually not found far from water.

Behaviour

The Cape Bunting is most often encountered singly or in pairs. They may occasionally also be found in family groups during the breeding season. It is less gregarious than other bunting species and does not form flocks.

The Cape Bunting often becomes tame around human settlements and may even enter buildings in their search for food. They are easily overlooked when not calling and are well camouflaged when foraging among rocks.

The Cape Bunting forages on the ground, usually on bare patches of soil and at the base of shrubs or among rocks. They move about mostly by hopping and feed mainly on the seeds of grasses, forbs, and shrubs. Small fallen fruits are also consumed as are insects (particularly ants and termites) and spiders. They are also known to eat fresh grass shoots. Cape Buntings drink and bathe regularly.

The Cape Bunting is a monogamous, solitary nester and is not known to be territorial. The nest is a cup of grass, twigs and roots, neatly lined with fine dry grass, rootlets, fluffy seeds and hair. The nest is placed on or close to the ground (usually 30cm to 2.0 m above the ground) in a low, dense bush, or creeper, often next to a rock

The Cape Bunting has been recorded breeding from August to May. However, breeding peaks earlier in the south-west of its range (September to October) than in the north-east of its range (November to December). 2 to 3 eggs (sometimes up to 5) are laid per clutch. The eggs are either white, cream, or pale greenish blue with fairly heavy red-brown to chocolate-brown blotches and speckles. The incubation period lasts for 13 to 16 days. The newly hatched young are as yet undescribed. The nestlings are fed and cared for by both parents and the nestling period lasts for around 12 days or so.

Further Resources

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

The use of photographs by Anthony Paton, Dave Rimmer, Desire Darling, Gerald Wingate, Gregg Darling, Johan Van Rooyen, John Tinkler, Jorrie Jordaan and Marna Buys is acknowledged.

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

Other common names: Rooivlerkstreepkoppie (Afrikaans); umNdweza (Zulu); Maborokoane (South Sotho); Kapammer (German); Bruant du Cap (French); Kaapse Gors (Dutch); Escrevedeira do Cabo (Portuguese).

List of bird species in this format is available here.

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM 2024. Cape Bunting Emberiza capensis. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2024/12/05/cape-bunting-emberiza-capensis/

Bird identification, birding

Cover image: Crimson-breasted Shrike by Tino Herselman – Kathu district, Northern Cape –  BirdPix No. 264401

The Crimson-breasted Shrike belongs to the Bushshrike family MALACONOTIDAE. Other members of this group include Boubou’s, Tchagra’s, Bushshrikes and Puffbacks. They are smallish passerine birds with robust bodies, strong legs and feet, and formidable shrike-like bills. Many are very colourful and most species are rather secretive. The majority occur in woodlands, but also in marshes, scrub and Afromontane or tropical forest. They were formerly classed with the true shrikes in the family Laniidae, but are now considered sufficiently distinctive to be separated from that group. The family is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa but is completely absent from Madagascar. The name Malaconotidae alludes to their fluffy back and rump feathers.

Identification

The Crimson-breasted Shrike is an eye-catching and highly distinctive species.

In adults, the upperparts, including the top and sides of the head, back, wings, and tail are entirely glossy jet black with a conspicuous white stripe on the folded wing. The underwing coverts are black. The underparts, from the chin to the vent, are bright crimson red or, rarely, bright yellow, and the thighs are black. The eyes are dark purplish-grey and the bill, legs, and feet are black. The sexes are alike.

Juveniles have black upperparts with fine, buff-brown barring. The underparts are greyer with fine greyish-brown barring and the undertail coverts are crimson. During transition into adult plumage, the underparts become blotched in brown and crimson.

The striking plumage of the Crimson-breasted Shrike means it is very unlikely to be mistaken for any other southern African bird species. It is closely related to other Laniarius bushshrikes, but the other southern African species such as the Southern Boubou (Laniarius ferrugineus) carry far less colourful plumage.

Status and Distribution

The Crimson-breasted Shrike is a common resident and is near-endemic to southern Africa.

It ranges from southern Angola and south-western Zambia down to South Africa. In southern Africa, it occurs across most of Namibia and throughout Botswana to western Zimbabwe and into South Africa. In South Africa it is found in the western parts of the Limpopo Province, north-western Mpumalanga, northern Gauteng, throughout the North West province and extreme north-western Free State. It is also widespread in the Northern Cape, mainly north of the Orange River. The Crimson-breasted Shrike avoids the mostly treeless regions of the Namib and Karoo. It is also absent from seemingly suitable thornveld habitat in the north-eastern lowveld and is a vagrant to the Kruger National Park, South Africa.

The Crimson-breasted Shrike is widespread, and common across its extensive range, and does not seem to be threatened in any way. Bush encroachment, particularly by Dichrostachys and Vachellia (Acacia) in response to over-grazing has created much additional habitat for the species.

Habitat

The Crimson-breasted Shrike is a Vachellia (Acacia) woodland specialist. It favours dry Vachellia (Acacia) savanna and semi-arid scrub with scattered clumps of small trees, and particularly Kalahari thornveld. It is most numerous in the northern and central Kalahari, but less so in the more open southern Kalahari. Its presence in other woodland types, such as Mopane woodland and mixed woodlands are due to the extensive occurrence of Vachellia (Acacia) thickets within these habitats.

Behaviour

The Crimson-breasted Shrike is a resident and sedentary species but may move locally into riverine woodland during the dry non-breeding season.

They are usually found in territorial pairs, or occasionally alone. The Crimson-breasted Shrike is agile and active, constantly changing its posture accompanied by jerks or swings of the tail. They are highly vocal and territorial pairs duet and counter-sing with excited interactions that include bowing, side-to-side movements and tail-jerking.

The Crimson-breasted Shrike has a characteristic upright posture when foraging on the ground, normally with the wing tips pointed down and the tail held horizontal but is jerked up and down with each hop. They generally only spend a few minutes on the ground at a time before scampering up through a bush or low tree branches, zigzagging from branch to branch until hidden. Roosts on the mid- to lower branches of a thorn tree. Pairs sleep 1 to a few meters from each other, sitting pressed against a tree trunk at the base of a thick branch. The flight heavy, with shallow wing-beats.

Most foraging takes place in trees and on tree trunks. They spend less time foraging on the ground and will on occasion also hawk insects in the air. On the ground, they flick bits of vegetation aside, in much the same manner as a thrush. The Crimson-breasted Shrike sometimes forages in association with other bird species like Southern Pied Babblers, Arrow-marked Babblers, African Hoopoes and Common Scimitarbills.

The diet consists mainly of invertebrates, including beetles, ants, caterpillars, grasshoppers, etc. They will also feed on small fruits when available, especially those that have fallen to the ground.

The Crimson-breasted Shrike is territorial and is a monogamous and solitary nester. The nest is built by both sexes, usually in the early morning, and is completed in 4 to 6 days. The nest is a neat cup, built almost entirely of strips of bark collected from the branches and trunks of Vachellia (Acacia) trees by stripping the inside of bark peelings. Strips are then added by each bird in turn. The nest bowl is lined with rootlets and grass. The base of the nest is secured to branches with spider webs. It is usually placed 1 to 8 m above the ground in the vertical fork of the main stem, or more typically where the trunk and side branches diverge. The nest is placed less often on a horizontal or sloping fork.

Eggs are laid throughout the summer months with a clear peak during October and November. The eggs are oval-shaped and buff coloured or very pale green, pale blue, or (occasionally) white. The eggs are speckled and spotted with browns and greys, and with underlying slate or lilac. 2 to 3 eggs are laid per clutch and incubation usually begins only once the second or third egg has been laid. The incubation period takes 15 to 17 days and is performed by both sexes. Pairs will re-lay after failure, starting a new nest 1 to 2 weeks after a lost clutch.

The newly hatched young are born blind, naked and feeble but they develop quickly and are fully feathered at 10 days old. The young are brooded by their parents for the first 5 days or so, and are fed by both adults.

Both adults collect faecal sacs after feeding the chicks, either eating them, or carrying them away in the bill. This is done to keep the nest clean and hygienic and to prevent a smelly nest from attracting potential predators and pests. The young are ready to leave the nest after around 20 days, but stay close to the adults, although they mostly forage independently. The young roost in the same tree as their parents, each bird occupying a separate perch. The young may sometimes still remain with the adults when incubation of a second clutch starts.

The Crimson-breasted Shrike is single or double-brooded, with up to 4 nesting attempts per season. A new nest is often started 1 or 2 weeks after the previous brood has fledged. Clutches of the Crimson-breasted Shrike are sometimes parasitised by the Black Cuckoo (Cuculus clamosus).

Further Resources

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

The use of photographs by Andre Kok, Ansie Dee Reis, Attie van Aarde, Carel van der Merwe, Corne Rautenbach, Glen McCarthy, Gregg Darling, Helen Badenhorst, Johan Van Rooyen, Karis Daniel, Lance Robinson, Tino Herselman and Trevor Hardaker is acknowledged.

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

Other common names: Crimson-breasted Gonolek (Alt. English); Rooiborslaksman (Afrikaans); Kgorogoro (Tswana); Gonolek rouge et noir (French); Burchell-fiskaal (Dutch); Rotbauchwürger, Reichsvogel, Kaiservogel (German); Picanço-preto-e-vermelho (Portuguese).

List of bird species in this format is available here.

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM 2024. Crimson-breasted Shrike (Laniarius atrococcineus).  Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2024/11/01/crimson-breasted-shrike-laniarius-atrococcineus/

Bird identification, birding

Cover image of Chat Flycatcher by Richard Johnstone – Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape – BirdPix No. 162613

The Chat Flycatcher belongs to the family MUSCIPAPIDAE. This large family is currently made up of 351 species, which are divided into 54 genera. Birds in this family are mainly small insectivorous songbirds and include Chats, Robin-chats, Scrub-robins, Wheatears, Old World Flycatchers, etc. They are small passerine birds and are largely restricted to the Old World (Europe, Africa, and Asia). The family presents many problems, as taxonomists disagree on which of the flycatcher groups should be included.

Identification

Adult Chat Flycatchers are rather drab and nondescript birds. They are large, almost thrush-sized flycatchers with a slender build and longish legs. The tail and wings are longer than those of other brown chats and flycatchers.

The upper parts from the forehead to the rump are a uniform, dull greyish-brown. The face is dull brown with an inconspicuous pale eye ring and an inconspicuous buffy stripe above the lores, between the eye and the bill. The upper tail is dark brown with a rufous tint. The upper-wing is dark brown with prominent pale edges to the flight feathers, and a fairly conspicuous pale flash on the edge of the folded wing. The underwings are plain buffy-brown. The chin and throat are greyish-brown and very pale. The breast and flanks are pale brown, the flanks often have a warmer slightly rufous tint. The belly is slightly paler and more buff-coloured than the breast. The bill, legs and feet are black, and the eyes are dark brown. The sexes are alike.

Juveniles are more distinctively plumaged than adults. The upper parts are dark brown overall, with numerous, off-white streaks and spots. The face and throat are often dark. Underparts carry similar ground colouration to the adults but with some darker mottling, especially on the breast and upper belly. They are difficult to tell apart from the juveniles of other similar flycatchers.

The Chat Flycatcher is easily mistaken for other brown flycatchers and Chats. Their overall size and choice of habitat are key identification aids. It is perhaps most likely to be mistaken for the Marico Flycatcher (Melaenornis mariquensis). The latter is smaller, with a far clearer contrast between the whitish underparts and the richer brown upper parts. The Sickle-winged Chat (Emarginata sinuata) is also similar and is found in much the same habitat. However, the Chat Flycatcher can be told apart from all chat species by lacking their coloured or patterned tails.

Status and Distribution

A common resident or local nomad. The Chat Flycatcher is near-endemic to southern Africa and occurs in the arid and semi-arid parts of the region. Its distribution ranges from the drier inland parts of the Eastern and Western Cape provinces, and throughout most of the Northern Cape. It is widespread in Namibia and Botswana but is absent from the Namib Desert and much of north-eastern Namibia and northern Botswana. Outside of southern Africa, its range extends marginally into southern Angola.

The Chat Flycatcher is not threatened and is well-represented in protected areas. It may have increased in numbers in drought-ravaged regions that have lost most of their large trees in the last 20 years. However, the population south of Elands Bay in the south-western part of the Western Cape has been lost through habitat destruction. It was regular there before 1950 but is now absent.

Habitat

The Chat Flycatcher favours arid, open habitats with low bushes and few trees, and often in places with sparse grass cover. It is most numerous in the semi-arid shrublands of the Nama Karoo in the dry Vachellia (Acacia) savanna of the Kalahari, followed by the dry, sparse woodlands of western Namibia. The Chat Flycatcher requires bushes or fence posts to perch on and is uncommon in areas of open veld with few shrubs.

Behaviour

The Chat Flycatcher is generally resident and sedentary but is nomadic in the southern Nama Karoo, where it is present and breeding in some years, and often completely absent for the following 2 or 3 years.

The Chat Flycatcher is generally encountered solitarily, in pairs, or in small family groups. They are rather quiet and lethargic birds, spending much of their time perched atop a bush or fence post. The flight of the Chat Flycatcher is powerful and slightly undulating. They generally do not fly very far.

Most foraging is conducted from a low perch, like the top of a bush or fence post, actively scanning the ground for prey. Drops to the ground near prey and hops after it with wings partly spread. Prey is eaten on the ground, or may be carried back to a perch. Also catches prey aerially, but its flight is not as agile as with other flycatchers. The Chat Flycatcher can also hover to scan for prey if no perches are available. The Chat Flycatcher is predominantly an insectivore, consuming a wide range of insects such as termites, bugs, beetles, ants, grasshoppers, and small reptiles.

The Chat Flycatcher is well adapted to arid environments and does not need to drink.

The Chat Flycatcher has a protracted breeding season that is almost year-round. However, most breeding takes place during spring and summer, with a peak between October and January. Breeding is determined by rainfall, regardless of the season. It is thought to be monogamous and is a solitary nester with nesting pairs normally widely spaced.

The nest is a large, roughly made bowl placed in a low bush, usually around 1 meter above the ground. The nest is composed of dry plant stems like coarse grass and twigs. Inner cup is built with finer materialand is usually thickly lined with plant down. The nest is variably concealed by foliage. Aromatic plants are often chosen as the nesting site, including cudweed (Gnaphalium spp), everlastings (Helichrysum spp), Ankerkaroo (Pentzia incana) and Karoo rosemaries (Eriocephalus spp). This is thought to keep insects like flies away from the nest.

2 to 3 (rarely 4) eggs are laid per clutch. The eggs are greenish blue with bold, variably sized, dark reddish brown and grey spots. The incubation period takes 14 to 15 days and is done entirely by the female. The male remains nearby provisions the incubating female with food at the nest.

The newly hatched young are currently undescribed. The nestling period is variable, lasting for 11 to 14 days or so. The young are fed by both parents. The Chat Flycatcher is multi-brooded and little time is wasted between breeding attempts.

Further Resources

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

The use of photographs by Cameron Meyer, Jaco Botes, John Fincham, Jon Blanco, Kyle Finn, Lappies Labuschagne, and Richard Johnstone is acknowledged.

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

Other common names: Bradornis infuscatus, Melaenornis infuscatus (Alt. Scientific); Grootvlieëvanger (Afrikaans); Gobemouche traquet (French); Drosselschnäpper (German); Lijstervliegenvanger (Dutch); Papa-moscas-chasco (Portuguese)

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM 2024. Chat Flycatcher Melaenornis infuscatus. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2024/10/25/chat-flycatcher-melaenornis-infuscatus/

List of bird species in this format is available here.

Bird identification, birding

Cover image: Swallow-tailed Bee-eater by John Todd – Richtersveld National Park, Northern Cape – BirdPix No.182789

Bee-eaters belong to the Family: MEROPIDAE. This family contains three genera and 27 species. Most species are found in Africa and Asia, with a few in southern Europe, Australia, and New Guinea. Bee-eaters are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies, and usually elongated central tail feathers. All have long decurved bills and medium to long wings, which may be pointed or rounded.

Identification

The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater is one of the smaller bee-eater species, and is the only southern African bee-eater with a deeply forked tail. The sexes are alike.

Adults have emerald-green upperparts, including the forehead, crown, mantle, upper wing coverts, back, rump and upper tail coverts. The Forehead to mantle and upper wing coverts have a slight bronze wash. On the face there is a broad black stripe running from the base of the bill, through the eye to the upper ear coverts. The chin and throat are bright yellow and the cheeks are white. The throat and breast are separated by a narrow, bright blue band. The breast is green with a faint bronzy hue and the belly, flanks and the undertail coverts are pale blue.

The primaries and secondaries are mainly rufous, with a broad, black subterminal band. The underwings are predominantly pale cinnamon, with a dark trailing edge. The tail is blue and deeply forked. Each rectrice (tail feather) has a small white tip. The bill is black. The eyes are orange-red to crimson and the legs and feet are grey-black.

Juveniles resemble the adults but are paler with uniformly green underparts and faint streaking on the breast. Juveniles lack the bright blue band across the throat and the tail is less deeply forked. They also have dark brown (not reddish) eyes.

The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater is most likely to be mistaken for the smaller Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus) but the latter has a black (not blue) throat band, a buff (not blue) lower belly and undertail, and a green and brown (not blue) tail. The tail of the Little Bee-eater is square or slightly notched (not deeply forked).

Status and Distribution

The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater is a locally common resident and local migrant.

It is an Afrotropical species, occurring discontinuously from west Africa, east to Sudan and down to southern Africa. In southern Africa, it is mainly found in the drier northern and western parts, but is absent from the arid Namib Desert in Namibia. Despite being common along the middle and lower reaches of the Orange River in South Africa, it is only an erratic visitor into the surrounding semi-arid Nama-Karoo.

The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater is not threatened as a result of its wide range and its varied choice of habitat. It is represented in most protected areas within the arid and semi-arid regions.

Habitat

The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater frequents a variety of woodland types, preferring well-developed woodlands like riparian woodlands and tall savanna woodlands, usually on Kalahari sands, including Vachellia (Acacia), Zambezi Teak (Baikiaea plurijuga), Burkea (Burkea africana), miombo (Brachystegia), bushwillow (Combretum) and Mopane (Colophospermum mopane). The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater is also known to frequent Eucalyptus plantations.

Behaviour

The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater is found solitarily or in pairs during the breeding season and in flocks of up to 30 (usually 8-10) in winter. They roost communally in groups, perching tightly together on a tree branch.

It is subject to complex movements that are not well understood. Non-breeding birds usually occur in restless flocks, which arrive at a locality, stay for a few days or weeks, before moving on. The flight is agile and graceful due to the long wings and tail.

The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater forages by hawking insects in flight during short sallies from a perch. Also takes insects directly from flowers or vegetation. The diet consists almost entirely of insects, including venomous and non-venomous bees and wasps, also flies, beetles, grasshoppers, moths and dragonflies.

Stinging insects are caught in mid-air and held in the bill tip at the petiole of the insect’s abdomen. They then return to a perch where the prey is beaten a couple times against the perch. The prey is then held by the tip of the abdomen and rapidly (and repeatedly) rubbed against the perch to remove the sting before being eaten. Hard-bodied, non-venomous insects are beaten against the perch before swallowing. Small non-venomous insects like swarming ants and termites are eaten in flight.

Swallow-tailed Bee-eaters are monogamous and pairs nest solitarily, with the occasional assistance of a helper. Unfortunately rather little is known about its breeding biology.

The nest is a tunnel, excavated by both sexes, into the side of a low sand bank, usually less than 1.5 meters high. They also frequently nest in road verges and sometimes in the side of an Aardvark burrow or the sloping sides of a sandy mound, less often in flat or shelving sandy soil. The tunnel is straight and up to 1 meter long, widening into the nest chamber.

Eggs are laid during spring and summer (September to February), with a peak between September and November. 2 to 4 eggs are laid per clutch. The eggs are glossy white and almost spherical and are laid at 1 day intervals. Incubation details are unknown and very little is known about the development and care of the young. The young are sometimes raised with the assistance of a helper.

Nests of the Swallow-tailed Bee-eater are sometimes parasitised by the Greater Honeyguide.

Further Resources

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

The use of photographs by Andre Kok, Anthony Paton, John Todd, Karis Daniel, Kyle Finn, Rick Nuttall, Roelof van der Breggen, Salim Lee, Tino Herselman and Trevor Hardaker is acknowledged.

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

Other common names: Swaelstertbyvreter (Afrikaans); Morôkapula (Tswana); Zwaluwstaartbijeneter (Dutch); Guêpier à queue d’aronde (French); Schwalbenschwanzspint Gabelschwanzspint (German); Abelharuco-andorinha (Portuguese).

List of species available in this format.

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM 2024. Swallow-tailed Bee-eater Merops hirundineus. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2024/10/18/swallow-tailed-bee-eater-merops-hirundineus/

Bird identification, birding