Cover image of Little Rush Warbler by Malcolm Robinson – Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal

The Little Rush Warbler belongs to the Family LOCUSTELLIDAE (Grassbirds and allies). Locustellidae is a recently recognised family of small insectivorous songbirds. These birds occur mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and Australasia. They inhabit a variety of habitats with dense undergrowth, including forest, marshes, swampland, and seasonally arid grasslands. Most are drab, brownish or buff-coloured warblers with fine bills, lightly proportioned bodies, and relatively long graduated tails. The family is made up of 67 species from 11 genera.

Identification

The Little Rush Warbler is a small, dark warbler and the sexes are alike

Adult birds have dark greyish-brown upperparts with a rufous tinge towards the rump. The underparts are greyish white, with variable, indistinct dark streaks on the throat and upper breast. The flanks and undertail coverts are dull rufous. They have a buff-white supercilium, blackish lores, and buffy-brown ear coverts and cheeks with inconspicuous white streaks. The tail is dark brown, and relatively long and broad, giving a heavy-looking appearance. The bill is blackish-brown with a yellowish or pinkish base. The eyes are dark brown and the legs and feet are brownish-pink. Juveniles resemble the adults but have yellow-tinged underparts.

The Little Rush Warbler could easily be mistaken for a host of other wetland warbler species. It can be separated from Acrocephalus reed warblers by its light streaking on the breast, and heavy, dark tail.The Little Rush Warbler is most similar to the Fan-tailed Grassbird (Schoenicola brevirostris), but that species is paler brown above, with greyish-white (not dull rufous) undertail coverts. The Little Rush Warbler has a loud and distinctive call that is a useful aid in identification.

Status and Distribution

The Little Rush Warbler is common and is widespread but patchily distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa. It ranges from Ghana in the west, Ethiopia in the north, and down to South Africa. The Little Rush Warbler is widespread in southern Africa, but absent from the arid parts of Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa, including the Kalahari Basin and most of the Karoo.

The Little Rush Warbler is not threatened. There is no evidence to suggest that the current distribution differs from the historical range. It has probably benefited from man-made wetlands and the silting up of rivers, which promotes the growth of aquatic vegetation.

Habitat

The Little Rush Warbler occurs in reedbeds and other wetland vegetation, especially papyrus and sedges (Cyperus sp.) and Bulrushes (Typha sp.). It inhabits marshes, lagoons, and estuaries, streams, rivers, dams, sewage ponds, and flooded rank grassland. The Little Rush Warbler is found in all biomes where suitable habitat exists.

Behaviour

The Little Rush Warbler is a resident and largely sedentary species, but is known to make local seasonal movements in response to changing water levels.

It is usually encountered solitarily or in pairs. The Little Rush Warbler is a shy, skulking species and can be hard to see clearly. It spends much time low down in marshy vegetation, but sometimes perches prominently during the early morning. It is easily overlooked unless calling. The Little Rush Warbler is reluctant to fly, flying only short distances, with whirring wings and the broad tail conspicuously spread.

Not much is known of the Little Rush Warbler’s diet and feeding behaviour. It forages low down in vegetation, mostly over water or mud in sedges and reeds. It is known to eat small insects and their eggs.

The Little Rush Warbler breeds from August to January in the Western Cape, and from September to March further north. It is a monogamous and territorial species. The nest is a relatively large, deep and untidy cup made from reeds and coarse grass. The interior is lined with fine grass and rootlets. The nest is usually situated about 50cm above the ground or water.

2 to 3 eggs are laid per clutch. The incubation period takes 12 to 14 days, and the nestling period lasts a further 12 to 13 days. The young are known to be fed by both parents. The Little Rush Warbler is sometimes parasitised by the Diderick Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx caprius).

Further Resources

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

The use of photographs by Corrie du Toit, Gerald Wingate, Karis Daniel, Les Underhill, Malcolm Robinson, Marius Meiring, and Zenobia van Dyk is acknowledged. Additional photographs by Ryan Tippett.

Other common names: African Sedge Warbler (Alt. English); Kaapse vleisanger (Afrikaans); Unomakhwane (Xhosa); Bouscarle caqueteuse (French); Moeras-struikzanger (Dutch); Sumpfbuschsänger (German); Felosa-dos-juncos-africana (Portuguese).

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM. 2026. Little Rush Warbler Bradypterus baboecala. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2026/04/17/little-rush-warbler-bradypterus-baboecala/

List of bird species in this format is available here.

Bird identification, birding

Similar Species

Cover image of Layard’s Warbler by Rick Nuttall – Addo Elephant National Park, Eastern Cape

Layard’s Warbler is a member of the family SYLVIIDAE (Sylvia and Curruca Warblers). These small passerine birds are found throughout Africa, Europe, and much of Asia, as far as north-central China and parts of Siberia. These warblers are usually birds of dense, shrubby habitats, but some also occur in more forested environments. Sylviidae comprises 32 species from 2 genera.

Identification

In the Layard’s Warbler, the sexes differ slightly in plumage coloration, but this is difficult to see in the field. The adult male is predominantly slate grey in overall appearance. The upper parts are slightly darker than the undersides. The chin, throat, and upper breast are off-white, and the throat carries fine, black streaks. The lower breast is pale grey, palest in the middle, and the flanks are washed darker grey. The Undertail Coverts are white (diagnostic). The tail itself is black, edged, and tipped white. The eye is white (diagnostic in both sexes), and the bill, legs, and feet are black.

Adult females are usually slightly browner overall than males, and the streaking on the throat and upper breast is less well pronounced. The flanks and undertail coverts are buffy-white. Juveniles resemble the adults, but the chin and throat are greyish, without streaking. The underparts are buffy grey. They also differ in having greyish-yellow (not white) eyes.

Layard’s Warbler is only likely to be mistaken for the closely related Chestnut-vented Tit-Babbler (Sylvia subcaerulea), which is slightly darker and has chestnut (not white) undertail coverts. In more arid areas, the two species frequently co-occur, but differ in their preferred habitat.

Status and Distribution

Layard’s Warbler is fairly common to common. It is endemic to southern Africa, from western and southern Namibia south to the Western Cape and west across the Karoo to Free State, Lesotho, and marginally into western KwaZulu-Natal.

Layard’s Warbler is not threatened. The distribution is not known to have differed from the present. However, it has probably been negatively impacted by coastal development along the west coast of the Western Cape.

Habitat

Layard’s Warbler typically inhabits short scrub on rocky slopes. It occurs in semi-arid to arid Karroid scrub in both the summer and winter rainfall regions, where it appears to be most numerous. Also occurs in coastal fynbos, Alpine scrub, and taller montane fynbos. Layard’s Warbler is found from sea level along the West Coast to over 2400 m above sea level in the Drakensberg.

Behaviour

Layard’s Warbler is mostly resident. In the Karoo, it may move from hillside habitats to lower-lying drainage lines during winter; it also moves to lower altitudes in the Drakensberg during winter.

Layard’s Warbler is usually encountered singly or in pairs. They are not easily flushed and tend to remain hidden in the undergrowth. They are inquisitive and respond readily to tape playback or spishing. Conspicuous and vocal in the breeding season but easily overlooked when not calling. Sometimes snaps wings in flight from bush to bush and seldom flies in a straight line.

Layard’s Warbler forages low down in bushes and shrubs, gleaning food from leaves and stems. Eats invertebrates, including grasshoppers, termites, bugs, beetles, caterpillars, and ants. They also consume small fruits and seeds.

Layard’s Warbler is a monogamous, solitary nester. They are probably strongly territorial as breeding pairs are widely spaced. Sings from a perch or makes short display flights in territorial defence.

The nest is a thin-walled cup of grass, silky plant fibres, and spider web placed in a fork of a bush. It is usually found low down and is often fairly exposed. 2 to 3 eggs are laid per clutch. The incubation period is unknown. Adults feeding the young at the nest are very wary and frequently dive behind boulders and into concealing vegetation, usually emerging unseen. The nestling period is not more than 15days.

Further Resources

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

The use of photographs by Dawie de Swardt, Fiona Hellmann, Gerald Wingate, Gregg Darling, Phillip Nieuwoudt, Rick Nuttall, Ryan Tippett, Tino Herselman, and Zenobia van Dyk is acknowledged.

Other common names: Parisoma layardi (Alt. Scientific); Layard’s Titbabbler; Layard’s Tit-Babbler (Alt. English); Grystjeriktik (Afrikaans); Parisome de Layard (French); Layards Meisensänger (German); Layards Meeszanger (Dutch); Felosa-chapim de Layard (Portuguese)

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM. 2026. Layard’s Warbler Sylvia layardii. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2026/04/14/layards-warbler-sylvia-layardii/

Bird identification, birding

Image of Black-faced Waxbill by Rick Nuttall – Dealesville, Free State

Waxbills belong to the Family ESTRILDIDAE. This family also includes the Firefinches, Twinspots, Mannikins, Pytilias, etc. They are small, seed-eating passerines with short conical bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but vary widely in plumage colours and patterns. Most species are very colourful. They are usually gregarious and often colonial. Their nests are generally a ball of grass with a side entrance and are either placed in a tree or on or close to the ground. The family contains 138 species from 39 genera. They are restricted to the Old World and are found throughout sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar, as well as southern Asia and Australasia.

Identification

The Black-faced Waxbill is a distinct and unmistakable bird in southern Africa.

The sexes are similar, but females are overall paler and duller.

In males, the forehead is pale grey, and the mantle, upper back, and scapulars are greyish-brown with very fine, dark barring and a pinkish wash. They have a conspicuous black facial mask. The lower back, rump, and upper tail coverts are deep red. The tail is black and is relatively long and graduated. The folded wings are grey with neat black barring. The throat is pale greyish pink and very faintly barred. The lower breast is reddish pink, and the flanks are reddish pink to deep crimson. The centre of the belly and undertail coverts are black. The short, conical bill is black with a bluish-grey base. The legs and feet are black, and the eyes are dark red.

Juveniles resemble adult females, but with more extensive faint barring, and the upper tail coverts and rump are dark orange-red.

Status and Distribution

The Black-faced Waxbill is a common but localised resident. It is found in two oddly disjunct populations; one in East Africa (Tanzania, Kenya & Uganda), and one in southern Africa. The southern population extends from southern Angola and south-western Zambia through north-central Namibia, Botswana, southern and western Zimbabwe to South Africa. In South Africa, it occurs in central and western Limpopo, North West province, central and western Free State, and the north-eastern parts of the Northern Cape.

The Black-faced Waxbill is not threatened. The clearing of savannas for urbanisation and agriculture impact locally on its population. The Black-faced Waxbill is not abundant in most places, and its trapping for the cage-bird trade should be closely monitored.

Habitat

The Black-faced Waxbill inhabits arid and semi-arid thornveld savanna and riverine thornbush. It is dependent on permanent surface water. The Black-faced Waxbill also requires tree cover and is reportedly more arboreal than others in its family. This probably explains its absence from the Karoo and drier parts of the Kalahari.

Behaviour

The Black-faced Waxbill is resident and sedentary, but is subject to some local movements in the dry season. It is known to disappear from an area for long periods before suddenly reappearing. Flocks move into the drier parts of the Kalahari during the wet season, particularly in years of high rainfall.

The Black-faced Waxbill is usually found in pairs or small groups. They sometimes gather in larger flocks of up to 18 birds when not breeding, often where food is abundant. The Black-faced Waxbill is somewhat secretive, but can be easily located by its fairly loud contact calls.

Birds foraging on the ground or low down in vegetation fly into nearby bushes when disturbed. The Black-faced Waxbill sometimes roosts at night in old weaver nests, with up to 30 birds in 1 nest. They are dependent on water and drink regularly. After drinking and bathing, birds sit in dense foliage and preen for extended periods. They regularly allopreen and are often seen huddled together.

The Black-faced Waxbill is most active during the morning and late afternoon, often in loose association with other small seed-eating birds. They forage on bare ground or among leaf litter, searching for seeds. They will also take seeds directly from grass plants, often by perching on a grass stem and forcing the seed head to the ground before removing seeds. Small flying insects may be hawked from a perch or gleaned from vegetation. The Black-faced Waxbill’s diet consists mainly of grass seeds and is supplemented by insects such as termites, beetles, and small caterpillars. Some nectar is also consumed when available. They will also eat small, fleshy fruits and suitably-sized seeds from various trees and shrubs.

The Black-faced Waxbill is monogamous, and pair bonds appear to be strong. They are solitary nesters and are probably territorial. In courtship display, the singing male perches beside the female and holds 1 end of a grass inflorescence in his bill while throwing his head backwards and forwards, while his body bobs up and down.

Black-faced Waxbills mostly breed from December to May, but will breed opportunistically at other times in drier areas. The nest is built by both sexes with material collected by the male. The nest is round and bulky with a long, downward-pointing entrance. Some nests incorporate a cup-shaped false nest on top, which probably serves as a decoy to lure predators away from the true entrance. The nest is lined with soft, fine grass inflorescences and sometimes also feathers. The nest is usually placed 4 or 5 meters above the ground in dense, thorny vegetation.

2 to 6 white to cream eggs are laid per clutch. The incubation period lasts around 12 days and duties are shared by both sexes. The nestling period lasts up to 22 days. Broods may, on rare occasions, be parasitised by the Shaft-tailed Whydah (Vidua paradisaea)

Further Resources

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

The use of photographs by Dawie de Swardt, Karis Daniel, Lance Robinson, Maans Booysen, Norman Barrett, Rick Nuttall, Roelof van der Breggen, Sybrand Venter, Terry Terblanche, Tino Herselman, Tony Archer, and Zenobia van Dyk is acknowledged.

Other names: Black-cheeked Waxbill (Alt. English); Swartwangsysie (Afrikaans); Astrild à moustaches (French); Elfenastrild (Dutch); Elfenastrild (German); Bico-de-lacre-de-faces-pretas (Portuguese).

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM. 2026. Black-faced Waxbill Estrilda erythronotos. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2026/03/31/black-faced-waxbill-estrilda-erythronotos/

List of bird species in this format is available here.

Bird identification, birding

Cover image of Scaly-feathered Finch by Kyle Finn – Kuruman River, Northern Cape

The Scaly-feathered Finch is a member of the Family PLOCEIDAE (Weavers and Allies). Other members of Ploceidae include the Weavers, Bishops, Widowbirds, & Malimbes. Birds in this family are small passerines. These birds have short to medium, conical, pointed bills, adapted for seed-eating. They also have relatively strong legs and feet. Most are gregarious and are known for their intricately woven nests. They are distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, the southern edge of the arabian peninsula, and into tropical Asia. The family Ploceidae contains 123 species from 16 genera. Most species are found in Africa.

Identification

The Scaly-feathered Finch is distinct and unmistakable, and the sexes are alike.

The white-tipped black feathers on the crown, forehead, and wings, together with the black malar stripes and rose-pink bill are diagnostic. The remainder of the upper sides are brownish-grey. The undersides, from the throat to the vent, are white. The tail is black with white edges, and the legs and feet are pink.

Immature or juvenile birds resemble adults but lack the scaly-feathering on the forehead and crown, and they also have greyish-yellow (not pink) bills.

Status and Distribution

The Scaly-feathered Finch is a locally Common near-endemic to southern Africa. Beyond the region, its range extends only into south-western Angola. In southern Africa, it occurs throughout Namibia (except the coastal desert) and Botswana, where it has a stronghold in the central and southern Kalahari. It is also found in central and western Zimbabwe. Its South African range includes western Limpopo Province and north-western Mpumalanga, south and west to the Northern Cape, with a seemingly isolated population in the Eastern Cape interior and adjoining Western Cape.

The Scaly Feathered Finch is not threatened, and its historical range is not known to differ from that of the present. It has benefited from thornbush encroachment due to overgrazing and is well represented in protected areas.

Habitat

The Scaly-feathered Finch prefers dry, open woodland dominated by thorn trees (Vachellia & Senegalia) and favours areas with small trees and patches of grass. In more arid, open areas like the Nama Karoo and southern Kalahari, it inhabits shrubs and thickets along drainage lines. The Scaly-feathered Finch also frequents farmyards and gardens.

Behaviour

The Scaly-feathered Finch is resident but becomes locally nomadic during dry periods. They occur in small groups of up to 20 birds throughout the year, but flock size often increases in winter and during droughts.

The Scaly-feathered Finch drinks water regularly when available. However, it is well adapted to arid environments and can survive without water for extended periods. It is an active species that forages on the ground. Groups hop about restlessly in their search for food. The diet consists mostly of grass seeds and is supplemented by termites.

At night, groups of Scaly-feathered Finches roost in thin-walled roosting nests; if disturbed, they burst through the roof of the nest before scattering. When available, they also roost in Sociable Weaver nests. The Scaly-feathered Finch is often tame and confiding.

The Scaly-feathered Finch is monogamous. They are possibly facultative cooperative breeders, where individuals (often young from previous years) help raise the young. However, this assistance is not essential for the species’ reproductive success. The Scaly-feathered Finch is known to breed opportunistically throughout the year in drier regions, but mostly during spring and summer in the more mesic eastern parts of its range. They are not colonial breeders, but nests may sometimes be clustered within a small area.

The nest is a scruffy, hollow ball of pale dry grass stems and inflorescences, with a spout-like side entrance tunnel. The aromatic green stems of Pentzia spp shrubs are often incorporated into the structure and may serve as a fumigant to repel ectoparasites. It is then lined with fine grass flowers. The nest is situated up to 4m (usually lower) above the ground in the thin branches of a thorn bush or tree. 2 to 7 eggs are laid per clutch. The incubation period takes up to 12 days to complete. Thereafter, the nestling period takes. Scaly-feathered Finch broods suffer a fairly high predation rate. One study found that up to 30% of broods fail due to predation.

Further Resources

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

The use of photographs by Aletta Liebenberg, Andre Kok, Dawie de Swardt, Joanne Putter, Karis Daniel, Kyle Finn, Norman Barrett, Ryan Tippett, Sybrand Venter, Terry Terblanche, and Zenobia van Dyk is acknowledged.

Other names: Scaly-feathered Weaver (Alt. English); Baardmannetjie (Afrikaans); Sporopipe squameux (French); Baardmanwever (Dutch); Schnurrbärtchen (German); Tecelão-de-testa-malhada (Portuguese).

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM. 2026. Scaly-feathered Finch Sporopipes squamifrons. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2026/03/18/scaly-feathered-finch-sporopipes-squamifrons/

List of bird species in this format is available here.

Bird identification, birding

Cover image of Lanner Falcon by Ryan Tippett – Carnarvon district, Northern Cape

The Lanner Falcon belongs to the family FALCONIDAE (Falcons, Kestrels & Caracaras). Falconidae has traditionally been grouped with the family Accipitridae; however, morphological and DNA analyses suggest the two families are not closely related.  Members of this family are small to medium-sized birds of prey. They have strongly hooked bills, sharply curved talons, and excellent eyesight. They can be found in most terrestrial habitats around the world, but the greatest diversity is found in South America and Africa. All are capable hunters that can take a variety of prey, including insects, birds, mammals, reptiles, and carrion. Most are solitary and territorial, though a few species are colonial or semi-colonial. There are 65 species in the family from 10 genera. 16 species are known from southern Africa.

Identification

The Lanner is a fairly large falcon and is the largest falcon species in southern Africa.

It has bluish-grey or brownish-grey upperparts and pale underparts varying from mostly unmarked whitish to whitish with a pink or buff-coloured wash. There are usually fine dark spots on the breast and belly, and dark bars and spots on the flanks and thighs. The forehead is pale buff, and the forecrown is dark greyish blue. The crown and nape are rufous to light buff. The underside of the tail has 8–12 narrow dark bars. The sexes are alike, but the female is often darker than the male and is significantly larger (20%). The bill is grey, with a blackish tip The eye ring, cere, legs and feet are dark yellow. The eyes are dark brown.

In juveniles, the upper parts are predominantly greyish-brown and the crown and nape are whitish to pale rufous. Underparts are buff coloured with heavy, smudged brown streaks. The flight feathers have whitish edges. The cere, eye ring, legs, and feet are greyish-blue. Young birds between the ages of 6 to 18 months show plumage features that are intermediate between juveniles and adults.

The Lanner Falcon is most often mistaken for the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus). The Peregrine is more compact and, although smaller, is more heavily built than the Lanner. The Peregrine also has more pointed wings and a shorter tail. Adult Peregrines have dark blackish (not rufous) crowns, broader malar stripes, and darker grey upper parts. Their underparts are densely barred and spotted black. Juvenile Peregrine Falcons have a dark brownish crown and finer, less bold streaking on the undersides.

Status and Distribution

The Lanner Falcon is fairly common in southern Africa. It has a wide distribution across Africa, the Middle East, and southern Europe. It occurs throughout most of Africa, avoiding only the equatorial rainforests, and is patchily distributed in the Sahara and North Africa. The Lanner Falcon ranges throughout southern Africa, with a stronghold in Lesotho and south-eastern South Africa.

Due to its wide distribution, the Lanner Falcon is not globally threatened (least concern). However, it is listed as Near-threatened in South Africa. Despite this, the species has experienced a drastic decline in Europe and parts of the Middle East. Local declines are also known in parts of North and sub-Saharan Africa. In South Africa, evidence of decreasing numbers from the central areas of the grassland biome suggests the Lanner Falcon is prone to pesticide contamination. The localised application of poisons to control locusts and Red-billed Queleas (Quelea quelea) may cause direct mortalities.

Fortunately, in South Africa, the Lanner Falcon has probably increased in numbers and extended its range into treeless areas by breeding on crow nests on utility pylons and poles. In many parts of southern Africa, the Lanner Falcon has benefited from preying on abundant free-range domestic chickens. It has also benefited from the clearing of savannas, creating more favourable open habitat.

Habitat

The Lanner Falcon is generally a cliff-nester, and its breeding distribution is closely associated with habitats where cliffs are available. However, they are also able to breed on lower rock-faces, trees, electricity pylons, buildings, and often in the old nests of other birds, especially crows.

For hunting, the Lanner Falcon prefers open habitats, including grassland, arid woodland, Karoo shrublands, and agricultural areas. However, the Lanner Falcon is known to exploit a very wide range of habitats, including well-wooded and forested areas where cliffs occur. It essentially hunts in any terrestrial habitat in southern Africa, except forest interiors. The Lanner Falcon is recorded from all biomes in southern Africa.

Behaviour

Lanners often perch conspicuously on a cliff, dead tree, telephone pole, or fence post. They also soar for prolonged periods. The flight is buoyant, with fairly deep wing-beats.

The Lanner Falcon is usually encountered singly or in pairs. Aggregations can occur, especially in the drier western areas, and are mostly composed of juveniles with the occasional adult. The Lanner Falcon is a facultative migrant, meaning they choose to migrate or stay based on immediate environmental conditions. Immature birds are more mobile than adults, and the extent of migration varies depending on rainfall patterns and their effects on prey abundance. Much of these annual movements are from breeding areas on the eastern escarpment to flatter, drier regions in the west and south-west, especially the Karoo, Kalahari, and Western Cape.

The Lanner Falcon hunts from a prominent perch or from the air. They primarily use speed to surprise and capture prey, and are known to use obstructive cover to hide their approach. They may attack directly in a spectacular stoop dive or in level, fast flight, low over the ground, striking at prey as it flushes. Lanners may also dive from a perch onto ground-dwelling prey and have even been seen to catch insects while walking on the ground. Prey is seized both in mid-air and close to or on the ground. Pairs often hunt as a cooperative unit, particularly in strikes at large or evasive prey. The Lanner Falcon is opportunistic and often hunts at water holes, where prey congregates to drink, and sometimes also attacks birds flushed by vehicles or injured by hunters.

The Lanner Falcon feeds mostly on small to medium-sized birds, but can take prey up to the size of guineafowl. Important bird prey includes pigeons, doves, francolins, sandgrouse, plovers, mousebirds, small granivores, and domestic chickens. Poultry makes up to 40% of its diet in some areas. Also eats small mammals (including bats), reptiles, and insects. The Lanner Falcon occasionally also feeds on carrion.

Lanner Falcons are monogamous and form long-term pair bonds. They are solitary nesters and strongly territorial. Lanners do not construct true nests of their own, but rather use a simple scrape on a cliff ledge or tall building. They also readily use the old platform nests of crows, ravens, herons, or other raptors, either on a cliff, in a tree, or on a power pylon. They may, on occasion, also usurp active nests of birds as large as Verreaux’s Eagle (Aquila verreauxii).

The Lanner Falcon breeds from July to December in southern Africa, with breeding starting later in the south of its range. 1 to 5 eggs are laid per clutch, and eggs are laid at 2 or 3-day intervals. Incubation usually starts after the last egg is laid, and most of the incubation is done by the female. Hatching is generally synchronous. The female generally remains at the nest while the male does most of the hunting. The fully fledged young remain dependent on their parents for food for up to 3 months.

Further Resources

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

The use of photographs by Andrew Keys, Cobus Elstadt, Craig Peter, Johan van Rooyen, John Todd, Lance Robinson, Les Underhill, Malcolm Robinson, Norman Barrett, Pamela Kleiman, Phillip Nieuwoudt, and Ryan Tippett is acknowledged.

Other common names: Edelvalk (Afrikaans); uHeshe (Zulu); Ukhetshe (Xhosa); Faucon lanier (French); Lannerfalke (German); Lannervalk (Dutch); Falcão-alfaneque (Portuguese)

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM. 2026. Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2026/03/14/lanner-falcon-falco-biarmicus/

Bird identification, birding

Cover image of Rosy-faced Lovebird by Roy Earle – Karas, Namibia

Lovebirds are members of the family PSITTACULIDAE (Old World Parrots). The Psittaculiudae is one of four parrot families in the order Psittaciformes. Characteristic features of all parrots include a strong, curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly coloured and exhibit little or no sexual dimorphism. They form the most variably sized bird order in terms of length. The most important components of most parrots’ diets are seeds, nuts, fruit, buds, and other plant material. A few species sometimes eat animals and carrion, while the lories and lorikeets are specialised for feeding on floral nectar and soft fruits. Almost all parrots nest in tree hollows and lay white eggs. The Psittaculiudae is made up of 201 species from 41 genera. There are 9 species of Lovebirds and they are restricted to sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar.

Identification

The Rosy-faced Lovebird is a small, colourful, and noisy parrot with a dumpy, short-tailed appearance.

It is predominantly bright, grass green, although slightly yellower on the undersides. The face, throat, and breast are rose pink, and the forehead and eyebrow are bright pinkish red. The rump is bright cobalt blue. The eyes are dark brown with a white eye-ring. The bill is pale yellowish-horn, and the legs and feet are grey. The sexes are similar, but males have brighter pink colouration on the head and face. Immature birds resemble the adults but are duller, with a greenish forehead and a black base to the upper mandible.

The Rosy-faced Lovebird is easily distinguished from Lilian’s Lovebird (Agapornis lilianae) by its pale (not redish) bill, and by its blue (not green) rump and pink face and upper breast. Additionally, the natural ranges of the two do not overlap.

Status and Distribution

The Rosy-faced Lovebird is a locally common resident. Its range extends from just south of the Orange River, near Kenhardt, in the Northern Cape, through Namibia and into Angola. It historically occurred east to Lake Ngami in Botswana, but there have been no recent records from that area. The Rosy-faced Lovebird frequently escapes from captivity, and there is a well-established feral population in Gauteng. This population consists of escaped pets and their descendants, including hybrid mixtures with other lovebird species.

The Rosy-faced Lovebird is not threatened. Its range in southern Africa has probably increased in recent years with the provision of artificial structures for nest sites and water points in arid regions. However, trapping for the cage bird trade has resulted in substantial decreases in southern Angola.

Habitat

The Rosy-faced Lovebird inhabits dry woodland, scrubby hillsides, riparian woodlands, and tree-lined watercourses in arid regions. It favours places with rocky outcrops, which are used for breeding. The Rosy-faced Lovebird is highly water-dependent and often congregates around farm dams and reservoirs. It forages in nearby semi-desert shrublands, but is absent from very open habitats. The Rosy-faced Lovebird also visits gardens on farms and in some suburban areas.

Behaviour

The Rosy-faced Lovebird is highly nomadic; its movements are dictated by water and food availability. They are noisy and usually gregarious in flocks of up to 15 birds, but larger flocks gather at water and reliable food sources. The Rosy-faced Lovebird is highly dependent on water and may drink several times per day. The flight is agile, rapid, and direct.

Flocks often roost in the nests of Sociable Weaver (Philetairus socius) and White-browed Sparrow-weaver (Plocepasser mahali). In cool weather, birds huddle in small groups on branches.

The Rosy-faced Lovebird forages by clambering about in the branches of trees and shrubs and gathers seeds from the ground. The diet consists of various seeds (especially grasses), fruits, berries, flowers, and grain crops such as millet, maize, and sunflower seeds.

Rosy-faced Lovebirds are monogamous and form pair bonds, which are maintained for life, while still in immature plumage. They have the extraordinary ability to breed when only 2 months old.

Rosy-faced Lovebirds are colonial nesters and breed mainly from February to April. Nests are most often placed in a hole in a rock face, or building, or in a chamber within a Sociable Weaver nest. They have also been recorded nesting under the eaves of houses and in nest boxes. The nest is a deep cup of bark strips, leaves, or grass. Nesting material is sourced and cut by the female and carried to the nest in her rump feathers. Grass is sometimes removed or stolen from the outside of Sociable Weaver nests to be used in nest construction. No nesting material is added to nests inside Sociable Weaver colonies.

4 to 6 dull white eggs are laid per clutch. Eggs are typically laid at 2 day intervals, and incubation begins a day or two after the first egg is laid. The incubation period lasts up to 23 days and is done entirely by the female.

Young chicks take around 43 days to fledge. During this time, they are closely brooded by the female, who receives food from the male. The female feeds her young chicks by regurgitation. Older chicks are later fed by both parents. Juvenile birds are dependent on their parents for a few months after fledging.

Further Resources

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

The use of photographs by Cobus Elstadt, Craig Peter, Evert Kleynhans, Johan van Rooyen, Lappies Labuschagne, Les Underhill, Maans Booysen, Roy Earle, and Ryan Tippett is acknowledged.

Other common names: Rooiwangparkiet (Afrikaans); Inséparable rosegorge (French); Rosenpapagei (German); Perzikkopagapornis (Dutch); Inseparável-de-faces-rosadas (Portuguese)

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM. 2026. Rosy-faced Lovebird Agapornis roseicollis. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2026/03/06/rosy-faced-lovebird-agapornis-roseicollis/

Bird identification, birding

Cover image of Acacia Pied Barbet by Gerald Wingate – Cape Town, Western Cape

The Acacia Pied Barbet belongs to the family LYBIIDAE. Members of the family, which also includes Tinkerbirds, are commonly known as African Barbets. They are small to medium-sized nearpasserine birds known for their heavy, toothed or serrate bills, zygodactyl feet, prominent rictal bristles, and patches of bright colours. They eat mostly fruit and nest in self-excavated holes in trees or banks. They are found throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Lybiidae is composed of 43 species from 10 genera. 10 species occur in southern Africa.

Identification

The Acacia Pied Barbet is a stout species with a bold black-and-white striped head.

The sexes are alike. Adults have an overall black and white (pied) appearance. The forehead is bright red and the crown and nape are black. black. A broad white and yellow supercilium extends well behind the eye and onto the nape. Below this, a thick black eye stripe runs from the base of the bill to the nape. The rest of the upper parts are black with dull yellow-tipped feathers. The rump is yellow and appears as a narrow yellow stripe in flight. The tail dusky-brown with buff-yellow outer tail feathers.

On the underparts, a broad black throat bib extends from the chin to the breast (diagnostic). The remainder of the underparts are white with a dull yellow wash. Some birds have indistinct blackish blotches on the belly and grey-washed flanks.The deep, heavy bill is black and notched on the upper mandible. Rictal bristles are prominent at the base of the bill. The eyes are dark brown and the legs and feet are blackish. Immature birds resemble the adults but the forehead is black (not red).

The Acacia Pied Barbet is sometimes confused with the much smaller Red-fronted Tinkerbird (Pogoniulus pusillus), and the orange-red foreheaded morph of the Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird (Pogoniulus chrysoconus). However, the tinkerbirds have a streaked crown and nape, white moustachial stripes and they lack the black throat bib.

Status and Distribution

The Acacia Pied Barbet is a common near-endemic to southern Africa, its ranges marginally into southern Angola and south-western Zambia. It is is the most widespread barbet in the region and is found virtually throughout South Africa.

The Acacia Pied Barbet is not threatened. It has undergone a dramatic and well-documented range expansion, mainly due to the spread of alien trees and the proliferation of artificial water points. This spread into previously unsuitable habitats occurred during the 20th century. The availability of suitable trees for nesting apparently limited its distribution in the past. Other possibly important factors include the abundant supply of food from fruiting alien trees, iand icreases in the density of suitable indigenous nest trees due to bush encroachment.

Habitat

The Acacia Pied Barbet is a characteristic savanna species. It is tolerant of varied ecological conditions but favours semi-arid savanna, particularly Vachellia/Senegalia (formerly Acacia) or mixed woodlands. In more open habitats, the Acacia Pied Barbet is found along wooded drainage lines. It also frequents gardens, parks, and orchards. The Acacia Pied Barbet’s occurrence in apparently unsuitable open or treeless habitats is attributed to both invasive alien and encroaching indigenous trees that provide nesting sites.

Behaviour

The Acacia Pied Barbet is a sedentary resident with some local movements depending on food and water availability, especially in drier areas. It is mostly encountered singly or in pairs and readily frequents gardens in agricultural and suburban areas. The Acacia Pied Barbet roosts in its own nest holes or in a variety of other species’ nests, including those of Greater Striped Swallow, South African Cliff-Swallow, Sociable and Cape Weavers, Southern Masked Weaver, and Brown-throated Martin. The flight is fast and somewhat dipping.

The larger Black-collared Barbet (Lybius torquatus) may exclude the Acacia Pied Barbet from some areas in the wetter regions of the region where greater competition for nest holes may occur. The Abundance of the Acacia Pied Barbet appears lower where it overlaps with the Black-collared Barbet.

The Acacia Pied Barbet feeds mainly on fruit, and is especially fond of mistletoes (Loranthaceae, Viscaceae) and figs (Ficus spp). It disperses sticky mistletoe seeds by regurgitation onto branches. They also consume the fruits of shepherds-trees (Boscia spp), karees (Searsia spp), guarris (Euclea spp), Honeythorns (Lyceum spp.), and Wild Date Palm Phoenix reclinata, etc. In gardens and orchards, they eat apples, grapes, peaches, etc. Acacia Pied Barbets also eat insects and drink nectar from aloes. They have also been observed eating certain flowers, petals, and seed pods.

The Acacia Pied Barbet is a monogamous, solitary nester. Nesting territories are formed which they actively defend. Breeding is recorded in spring and summer from August to April. In the winter rainfall region, breeding peaks between September and October. In the summer rainfall parts of its range, breeding peaks from October to December.

The nest is a self-excavated hole in a soft or dead branch of a tree, typically 1 to 3m above the ground. The entrance is roughly circular, up to 38mm in diameter. The nest may be reused again in the same season, but rarely in the following season. 2 to 4 plain white eggs are laid per clutch, although 3 is the norm. They are laid in wood chips at the bottom of the nest chamber. The incubation period lasts up to 18 days and is performed by both sexes. The nestling period takes up to 35 days, during which the nestlings are fed by both parents. The Acacia Pied Barbet is double-brooded.

Despite vigorous defence of the nest, the Acacia Pied Barbet is a brood host of the Lesser Honeyguide (Indicator minor), and less frequently, the Greater Honeyguide (Indicator indicator). The range expansion of the Lesser Honeyguide into the Western Cape province closely followed that of the Acacia Pied Barbet.

Further Resources

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

The use of photographs by Cobus Elstadt, Colin Summersgill, Derek Solomon, Gerald Wingate, Jon Blanco, Karis Daniel, Kyle Finn, Lance Robinson, Roy Earle, and Ryan Tippett is acknowledged.

Other common names: Pied Barbet (Alt. English); Bonthoutkapper (Afrikaans); Barbican pie (French); Rotstirn-Bartvogel (German); Kaapse Baardvogel (Dutch); Barbaças-das-acácias (Portuguese)

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM. 2026. Acacia Pied Barbet Tricholaema leucomelas. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2026/03/04/acacia-pied-barbet-tricholaema-leucomelas/

Bird identification, birding

Cover image of Yellow Canary by Lance Robinson – Near Frankfort, Free State

Canaries belong to the Family FRINGILLIDAE (True Finches). Other members of Fringillidae include the Siskins, Seedeaters, Redpolls, Serins, Grosbeaks, and Euphonias, as well as the morphologically divergent Hawaiian Honeycreepers. Birds in this family are small to medium-sized passerines. They generally have stout conical bills adapted for eating seeds and nuts, and often have colourful plumage. They occupy a great range of habitats where they are usually resident and do not migrate. They have a worldwide native distribution except for Australia and the polar regions. The family Fringillidae contains around 236 species from 50 genera.

Identification

In the Yellow Canary, the sexes differ in plumage colouration.

Adult males are olive green above with fine brown streaking. Birds from the central to northern parts of its range tend to be brighter and yellower above. The undersides are rich yellow in the north and yellow with a greenish wash in the south. The forehead, supercilium, and cheeks are rich yellow. An olive-green band runs through the eye and widens over the ear coverts and onto the sides of the neck and nape. A narrow olive-green malar stripe extends below the yellow cheek and connects with the olive-green sides of the neck. The bill is horn-coloured and the eyes are brown. The legs and feet are pinkish brown.

Females are drab in comparison. They are dull olive-grey above, heavily streaked with dusky brown. The lores, ear coverts, and malar stripe are greyish olive, contrasting with a buffy-white supercilium and lower cheeks. The rump and upper tail coverts are yellowish-green. The underparts are buffy white, heavily marked with dusky brown and buffier on the belly, with fewer markings.

Juveniles are similar to adult females but are more heavily streaked above and below.

Status and Distribution

The Yellow Canary is a common near-endemic to southern Africa. Its range extends beyond the region only into south-western Angola. The Yellow Canary is widespread in the south-western, central, and north-western parts of the subregion.

There is no evidence of any recent change in the distribution of the Yellow Canary. The species is not considered threatened. The population sometimes irrupts east of its usual range during drought years.

Habitat

The Yellow Canary is a species of relatively dry and open environments. It inhabits a relatively wide variety of habitats. These include arid and semi-arid Karoo shrublands, arid savanna, alpine shrublands, dry grasslands, dry fynbos, renosterveld, and strandveld, as well as dune vegetation. It also occurs along weedy road verges and in gardens. In the Karoo, the Yellow Canary favours small drainage lines with taller shrubs and rocky hillsides with scattered bushes. In the south-western Cape, it is most abundant in strandveld, renosterveld, and dune fynbos, and avoids mountain fynbos.

Behaviour

The Yellow Canary is resident in moister parts of its range, and nomadic or possibly a partial migrant in drier regions.

The Yellow Canary is a conspicuous species. It occurs in pairs when breeding but is found in small to large flocks during the non-breeding season. It frequently forms mixed flocks with Cape Sparrows, White-throated Canaries, Black-headed Canaries, and non-breeding weavers and bishops. The Yellow Canary drinks regularly and often congregates at waterholes, dams, and drinking troughs.

It forages on the ground and at the tops of shrubs. The diet of the Yellow Canary mostly consists of seeds and small fruits, but they will also consume flowers, nectar, and small insects.

The Yellow Canary breeds from August to April. Breeding peaks earlier in the winter rainfall region (August), and later between September and October in the north of its range. In arid areas, the Yellow Canary breeds opportunistically after rains at almost any time of the year.

The nest is a shallow cup composed of grass stems, rootlets, dry stalks, etc. The bowl is lined with soft plant down. Nests are most often placed in the fork of a shrub or small tree, usually around 50cm above the ground. It is built entirely by the female in as little as 3 days.

2 to 4 white eggs are laid per clutch. The eggs are sometimes pale blue or green, occasionally with sparse purple-brown spots. The incubation period lasts for 12 to 14 days and is performed only by the female. The nestling period takes up to 19 days and the young are fed by both parents.

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, Johan van Rooyen, Karis Daniel, Lance Robinson, Norman Barrett, and Sybrand Venter is acknowledged. Additional photographs by Ryan Tippett.

Other names: Serinus flaviventris (Alt. Scientific); Geelkanarie (Afrikaans); Serin de Sainte-Hélène (French); Geelbuiksijs, Geelbuikkanarie (Dutch); Gelbbauchgirlitz (German); Canário-de-barriga-amarela (Portuguese).

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM. 2026. Yellow Canary Crithagra flaviventris. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2026/02/26/yellow-canary-crithagra-flaviventris/

List of bird species in this format is available here.

Bird identification, birding

Cover image of Lesser Swamp Warbler by Johan Heyns – Marievale Bird Sanctuary, Gauteng

The Lesser Swamp Warbler belongs to the Family ACROCEPHALIDAE (Reed Warblers and allies). The species in this family are small, insectivorous passerine birds. Most are drab olive-brown above and cream to yellow or beige below. They are usually found in reedbeds, but also in open woodland or tall grass. The family is found primarily across Europe, Asia, and Africa, but also ranges far into the Pacific. They are members of a complex group that was formerly included with the Old World warblers but have since been reclassified based on genetic data. The family is made up of 60 species from 7 genera.

Identification

The Lesser Swamp Warbler is fairly large for a reed warbler and has a rather robust build. The upperparts are warm brown with a grey wash on the head and neck. It has a fairly conspicuous white eyebrow. The underparts are whiteish-buff with diagnostic, lightly rufous flanks. The legs are dark brown, unlike the paler brown legs of most Acrocephalus warblers. The sexes are alike, but males are larger than females. Juveniles resemble the adults but have darker underparts and less distinct eyebrows.

The Lesser Swamp Warbler can be mistaken for several other warbler species. It is larger than the African Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus baeticatus) and darker above with a more distinct eyebrow. It can be told from the Little Rush Warbler (Bradypterus baboecala) by the complete lack of streaking on the throat or breast, and by its dark (not pinkish) legs. Additionally, the Lesser Swamp Warbler can be told from all other species by its rich, melodious, and distinctive song.

Status and Distribution

The Lesser Swamp Warbler is a common resident. It is widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa from southern Sudan and Ethiopia to South Africa, with isolated populations in west-central Africa. It is found almost throughout southern Africa, except the Kalahari Basin and most of the arid and semi-arid parts of Namibia.

The Lesser Swamp Warbler is not threatened. There is no evidence to suggest that the present-day distribution differs from the historical range. The widespread loss of natural wetland habitats has been offset by the construction of dams and sewage ponds, especially in drier areas, which has most likely helped to extend its range. Additionally, the silting up of rivers has provided further suitable habitat by promoting the growth of reeds and other aquatic plants.

Habitat

The Lesser Swamp Warbler inhabits reedbeds (Phragmites spp) and bulrushes (Typha capensis) in standing or slow-moving water, including estuaries, rivers, dams, pans, marshes, floodplains, and lakes. It occurs in most biomes, wherever suitable habitat exists.

Behaviour

The Lesser Swamp Warbler is encountered singly or in pairs. It is sedentary and territorial year-round. It is highly vocal in summer, but less so during the rest of the year. Nevertheless, the Lesser Swamp Warbler seldom shows itself from thick cover and is frequently overlooked unless calling. It is inquisitive and responds well to spishing, but is not easily seen in its dense reedbed habitat.

The Lesser Swamp Warbler forages low down in reeds and among other aquatic plants, often just above the water. It moves nimbly up and down vertical stems to glean food items. It may also forage in leaf litter on the ground, and among the foliage of trees adjacent to reedbeds.

The Lesser Swamp Warbler feeds primarily on invertebrates like insects and spiders, and possibly also small frogs.

The Lesser Swamp Warbler breeds from September to December in the Western Cape, and slightly later (October to January) in the northern parts of South Africa. Records show that it breeds almost throughout the year in Zimbabwe.

The nest is a tidy cone-shaped cup built from grass and reed blades. It is lined with fine strips of grass with a few feathers and securely bound to a vertical reed stem. The nest is usually placed 20 to 120cm above the water. 2 to 3 eggs are laid per clutch. The eggs are white to greenish or pale blue-white with heavy black, brown, and grey spots. The incubation period takes up to 14 days and is done by both sexes. Details regarding the nestling period are unrecorded; however, the young are known to be fed by both parents.

Further Resources

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

The use of photographs by Georg Jacobs, Johan Heyns, Jon Blanco, Les Underhill, Lia Steen, Mark Stanton, and Sharon Stanton is acknowledged. Additional photographs by Ryan Tippett.

Other common names: Cape Reed Warbler (Alt. English); Kaapse rietsanger (Afrikaans); Rousserolle à bec fin (French); Kaapse Rietzanger (Dutch); Kaprohrsänger (German); Rouxinol-pequeno-dos-pântanos (Portuguese).

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM. 2026. Lesser Swamp Warbler Acrocephalus gracilirostris. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2026/02/23/lesser-swamp-warbler-acrocephalus-gracilirostris/

List of bird species in this format is available here.

Bird identification, birding