Africa Wild

102. Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptica

Identification
63-73 cm. Sexes look the same, male slighty bigger than female. Quite a bit of variation in plumage tone, with some birds greyer and others browner. A large part of the wings of mature birds is white, but in repose the white is hidden by the wing coverts. Distinctive brown eye ring.

by Mel
Twee Rivieren, March 2013

by nan
30.1.2012 - South of Nossob River

by ExFmem
Montrose

by Michele Nel
Urikaruus Waterhole - 29/12/2016

401. Spotted Eagle-Owl Bubo africanus

Identification
43-50 cm, medium sized and one of the smallest of the Eagle owls. The facial disk is off-white to pale ochre, yellow eyes and prominent ear tufts.
Upper body is dusky brown, with the lower parts being off-white with brown bars. Easily mistaken for the Cape Eagle-owl but the yellow eyes, smaller claws and striped legs differentiate it from the Cape Eagle-owl.

by Mel
Male and female, close to Batulama, October 2011

by Tina
Exit road from Gharagab October 2013

by ExFmem
Oct. 2011 Auob side between Kalahari Tented Camp and Dalkeith

by nan
At night 15.2.2012 - around Kalahari Tented Camp was also a mating couple... but not enought light

by Michele Nel
Nossob Riverbed, 31 Dec 2015
by Lisbeth - Nov. 2017

Chicks by Lisbeth - Nov. 2017
byDindingwe

397. White-faced Scops-Owl Ptilopsis granti

Identification
22-28 cm Upperparts grey with dark streaks and white spots on scapular feathers. Underparts whitish with dark streaks. White face with a black border and black around the large orange eyes. Two short ear tufts with black tips. Juveniles have a greyish face.

by Mel
Mata-Mata, October 2011

by nan
Nossob - 23.1.2012

by ExFmem
Nossob, October

by Michele Nel
MataMata - Jan 2016

398. Pearl-spotted Owlet Glaucidium perlatum

Identification
17-20 cm. Two black patches with white rims on the back of the head, which appear as false eyes. Plumage is cinnamon-brown, with white spots on the upperparts, and white on the underside with broad brown streaks. Flight feathers are dark brown with light rufous bars. Relatively long, brown tail with incomplete white bars. The facial disk is whitish, while bill and eyes are yellow. Sexes are similar. Juveniles have a less rufous plumage, with fewer white spots on the head and a shorter tail.

by Mel
Urikaruus, March 2013

by nan

by ExFmem
Oct. 2007 Nossob Camp

by nan
1.10.2012 around Kieliekrankie

by Michele Nel
Pearl-spotted Owlet - Mata Mata - Dec 2013

392. Western Barn Owl Tyto alba

Identification
Medium-sized, pale owl. No feather ears, heart-shaped facial disc, dark eyes. Upperparts grey mixed with golden brown spots.

by Mel
Grootkolk, October 2013

by Tina
Kieliekrankie October 2013

by ExFmem
Nov. 2011, Pump House at Kielie Krankie

by nan

by Michele Nel
Nossob Riverbed, October 2013
by Lisbeth - Nossob River bed, Nov. 2017

762. Burchell's Starling Lamprotornis australis

Identification
Easily confused with the Cape glossy starling (and maybe Mewe's starling, but this one doesn't occur in KTP) but with longer tail and lacks the yellow eyes of the glossy starling.


Auob Riverbed, October 2011

by Tina
Geinab 26.09.2014

by nan
21.1.2016 around Grootkolk

by Michele Nel
North of Nossob - Jan 2014

731. Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor

Identification
Medium sized passerine. Predominantly black, white and grey in appearance with males having pink-flushed underparts.

by Mel
Dune road at 14th, March 2013

by nan

by Michele Nel
Lesser Grey Shrike - Polentswa - Feb 2013

516. Grey-backed Sparrowlark (Grey-backed Finchlark) Eremopterix verticalis

Identification
The white ear patch and sandy grey back and wings are very distinctive on the male. The female has a black belly patch and unstreaked flanks with a pale collar that extends around the ear coverts. Might be confused with the chestnut-backed sparrowlark but wings and back are greyish and more white on cheeks.


Lijersdraai, March 2013

female By Nan
16.2.2016 - Kgalagadi around KTC

Michele Nel
Bedinkt - Jan 2016

665. Desert Cisticola Cisticola aridulus

Identification
10-12 cm. Upperparts pale brown to buff with blackish streaks on the crown and back. Underparts whitish; breast, flanks and undertail coverts pale buff.
Sexes alike but female has a shorter tail.

by nan
Grootkolk, 18.2.2009

by Michele Nel
Desert Cisticola - Twee Rivieren - Jan 2016

183. Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni

Identification
Summer visitor.
30 cm. Male differs from male Rock Kestrel by its unspotted chestnut back and obvious grey secondaries. Female and imm. very similar to female and imm. Rock Kestrel but are generally paler below, especially on the underwing.
White, not black claws. Lacks dark line behind eye. Wingtips reach dark subterminal band of central tail feathers on perched birds.
Silent in the region.


Male
around Grootkolk 17.2.2011