Africa Wild

159. Shikra (Little Banded Goshawk) Accipiter badius

Identification
26–30 cm long. Short broad wings and a long tail. Adult identified by rufous-banded underparts extending to the throat, red eyes and, in flight by plain grey upperparts, lacking of any white on the rump and upper tail.
Immature dark brown above, whitish below with rufous-brown central mesial stripe, heavily streaked breast and barred lower breast.


Juvenile

249. Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris

Identification
18 cm. Medium brown upperparts, white underparts, two black breast bands, separated by a white band, black crown, white supercilia extending from the white forehead to meet on the back of the neck, grey face becoming brown on the neck. The eye ring and the base of the black bill are red.
Habitat: On most water bodies with sandy or pebbly margins... rare on the open coast.



by Mel
Samevloeiing, 10/04/2015

by ExFmem
Dalkeith

by Michele Nel
Three-banded Plover at Nossob Hide - 23/02/2018

595. (Southern) Ant-eating Chat Myrmecocichla formicivora

Identification
18 cm. A dark grassland chat with a distinctive upright stance. It has relatively long legs which accentuate a short tail.
Adult male: Very dark brown and has a white shoulder patch that is often not visible when perched. In flight the wings show white windows. The bill, legs and feet are black and the eyes are dark brown.
Adult female: Similar to the male but without the white carpal patches.


Male
around Kij Gamies, 29.9.2009

by Mel
Grootkolk area, October 2013

by Tina
Male. Upper Dune Road. October 2013

by Michele Nel
Dune Rd, KTP - 01/01/2016

by harrys November 2017
by Dindingwe


by harrys

498. Sabota Lark Calendulauda sabota

Identification
White eyebrow distinctive. Short, dark bill, lower mandible pale.
Similar species: Sabota Lark is more distinctly streaked above and on breast than Fawn-coloured Lark, which lacks moustachial and malar stripes. Rufous-naped Lark is larger, has a simpler song, a longer bill, a crest, and a reddish panel on the folded wing. Melodious Lark is smaller, has less distinct streaking on the breast and less distinct eyebrows; it also seldom sings from elevated perches (usually sings in flight).

... mimic other birds


Northern Nossob river, 27.1.2012

Sabota lark (Bradfield's lark)
by Tina
Lower dune road October 2013

by Michele Nel
Sabota Lark - Auchterlonie - Jan 2016

by Mel
Between Uri and Kielie, March 2013
by Lisbeth - Nov. 2017
by Dindingwe

103. South African Shelduck Tadorna cana

Identification
Length 61-64 cm, mass 0.7-2.2 kg, males generally larger than females.
Adult male: Has a grey head and neck, and a russet and brown body. The folded wing has a white panel (coverts), a green panel (secondaries) and black primaries. Eyes are dark brown, and the bill, legs and feet are black.
Adult female: Similar to the male, but with a variable amount of white on the face and neck. The pattern of white and grey on the face and neck also varies.

by nan
Female - 10.2.2011 - around Twee Rivieren

by ExFmem
Female. Samevloiing October

by nan
Male - 10.2.2011 - around Twee Rivieren

by ExFmem
Male. Samevloiing October

by Michele Nel
South African Shelduck - Samevloeing - Oct 2013.

733. Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio

Identification
In the region, the only shrike with a combination of a chestnut-coloured back and gey crown
Male: Blue-grey head and rump, with a bold black eye-stripe. Black tail with white sides.
Female: Browner; head grey-brown with a dark cheek patch. Crescent-shaped bands on underparts.
Juvenile: Brown above with dark bars. Crescent-shaped bands cover the body.


27.1.2012 - around Nossob

by Michele Nel
Red-backed Shrike - Samevloeing - Jan 2013

788. Dusky Sunbird Cinnyris fuscus

Identification
The combination of the glossy black throat and upper parts and white belly is distinctive.

(c) nan
Female. 29.1.2012 - Kieliekrankie


(c) Michele Nel - Union's End Picnic Spot - 17/07/2010

697. Chat Flycatcher Bradornis infuscatus

Identification
20 cm. A large flycatcher of thrush-like proportions. It is uniform brownish above with paler underparts and a pale brown panel on folded secondaries.
Immature: heavily spotted with buff above and below.

by nan

by nan

by Michele Nel
Chat Flycatcher - Polentswa -Jan 2016

by ExFmem by Dindingwe

552. Ashy Tit Parus cinerascens

Identification
Dark grey flanks, bluish-grey back, more white on hindneck than grey tit. White cheeks, white edges to outer tail feathers and tail tip separate it from Miombo tit.

© Tina
Mata Mata 30.09.2014
© Mel
Grootkolk, 02/11/2014

by Michele Nel
Melkvlei Jan 2016

802. Great Sparrow Passer motitensis

Identification
Bright rufous rump, smaller black bib and heavier bill distinguish it from house sparrow. Whitish stripe above lores.

by Tina
Grootkolk September 2012

by Mel
Grootkolk, October 2012

by ExFmem
Oct. 2009 Grootkolk

by nan
1.1.2011 - Kiliekrankie