Africa Wild

567. African Red-eyed Bulbul Pycnonotus nigricans

Identification
Length 19-22 cm. Dark, slightly crested head, black bill, prominent red eyering. Brown back and tail, yellow vent, light brown breast shading downwards to white belly.

by Toko
Twee Rivieren

by Mel
October 2011

by Tina
Kieliekrankie, October 2013

by nan
8.3.2013 - Kalahari Tented Camp

by ExFmem
Nov. 2013 Kielie Krankie

by Michele Nel
Twee Rivieren Jan 2015
by Lisbeth - Kielie Krankie, Nov. 2017
by Dindingwe

739. Crimson-breasted Shrike (Crimson-breasted Boubou) Laniarius atrococcineus

Identification
23 cm. Unmistakable: striking red and black, with a white wing bar.

by Toko
Nossob camp

by Lisbeth

by Tina
Urikaruus September 2012

by ExFmem
Oct. 2007

by nan
1.12.2012 - Urikaruus

by Michele Nel
Dikbaardskolk, KTP - 01/01/2016
by Peter Betts
Mata Mata Camp
by Dindingwe
by Mel
Urikaruus 09/10/2016

402. Verreaux's Eagle-owl Bubo lacteus

Identification
The largest owl of the region. It ranges from 60–66 cm. In appearance, they are distinguished by a whitish oval disk face with a black border and their pink eyelids. Their eyes are orange in color and they have two fluffy ear-tufts. Overall, they are a fairly uniform brownish-gray, with light vermiculations above and white spots on the shoulder. They are paler on the underside.

by Lisbeth
Nossob region, December.

by Mel
Southern Auob, November 2011

by Tina
near Dalkeith, September 2012

by nan

by ExFmem
Oct. 2007, Auob Side

by Michele Nel
Auob Riverbed, June 2013
by Dindingwe

356. Namaqua Dove Oena capensis

Idenfication
Typically 22 cm in length with a 28–33 cm wingspan. The adult male has a black face, throat and breast, and a yellow and red beak. The adult female lacks the black and has a red-based grey bill. Young birds are dark blotched on the wings and shoulders, and otherwise resemble the females.

by Lis
Male. One of the dune roads, December.

by ExFmem
Male. Oct. 2011 Craig Lockhart

by Mel
Juvenile, Northern Auob, March 2010

by Tina
Female, near Auchterlonie, October 2013

by nan
23.1.2012 - South Nossob

by Michele Nel
North Of Twee Rivieren - Oct 2013.
by Dindingwe

856. Red-headed Finch Amadina erythrocephala

Identification
Length 13 cm; bill very heavy; tail rounded.
Adult male: Whole head bright red; rest of upperparts greyish brown, faintly barred on rump (whole upperparts barred in Cut-throat Finch); breast and flanks fawn, spotted with white, each spot outlined in black; lower belly white; under tail barred black, white and brown.
Adult female: Similar to male, but head brown above, barred black and white on throat.
Immature: Similar to adults, but duller; male has only trace of red on head. Chick: Palate pale with 5 black spots; throat and lower half of mouth black.


Female and male. Around 14th, August 2011

by Mel
Male and female, Grootkolk, October 2013

by Tina
Male and female, Grootkolk, September 2012

by ExFmem
Nov. 2013 Grootkolk Male and Female

by nan
Male

by Michele Nel
Auchterlonie - Oct 2013

354. Cape Turtle-dove Streptopelia capicola

Identification:
They measure 25–26.5 cm. Their body feathers are darkest on the upper side, where they are coloured in dull tones of grey and brown, with shades of lavender on the nape. It is paler below, where a tint of pinkish lavender is usually present. The lower belly and crissum is white. The eyes are almost black, the bill is black and the feet are dark purple.

by Lisbeth
Cubitje Quap, December.

by Mel
Nossob, October 2012

by Tina

by ExFmem
Oct. 2009 Craig Lockhart

by nan
Urikaruus - 26.9.2012

by Michele Nel
Nossob Camp - Jan 2016
by dindingwe

344. Namaqua Sandgrouse Pterocles namaqua

Identification
28 cm. Sandy-rusty brown breast with a breast bar, female - yellowish throat and V-markings on chest, short neck, small head, pointed wings, long pointed tail.
The sandgrouse is a medium-sized bird with a plump body, small head and short legs. It grows to a length of about 28 cm. The male has an orangish buff head, throat and chest delineated by a conspicuous narrow band of white and dark brown. The back and wings are mottled brown with large white specks and there are two long black filaments extending from the olive-brown tail. The coloring of the female and juvenile is more cryptic being generally various shades of brown patterned with white specks.




by Mel
Male, Union's End, October 2011

by Lisbeth
Kwang, December 2010

by Tina
Family at Houmoed, October 2013

by ExFmem
Oct. 2013 Cubitjie Quap, Male and Female

by nan
16.9.2012 - South of Kalahari Tented Camp

by Michele Nel
Auob Riverbed - Dec 2014
by Dindingwe

457. African Grey Hornbill (Grey Toko ) Tockus nasutus

Identification
45 cm. Grey body, head, flight feathers and long tail are darker. White line down each side of the head and one on the back (visible only in flight). Long curved bill (black in male, female has red mandibles). Small casque and a creamy horizontal stripe.
Immature birds are more uniformly grey.


13th, August 2011

by Mel
Around Urikaruus, March 2013

by Tina
Female, Dalkeith, October 2013

by nan
9.3.2013 - near KTC

by nan

© Michele Nel
Auob Riverbed - 22/07/2016

by ExFmem by Dindingwe

355. Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis

Identification
25 cm in length. Reddish-brown back, wings and tail. Blue-grey in the wings. Pink head and underparts, shading to whitish on the lower abdomen. Black spots on the throat. Red legs.


Twee Rivieren, August 2011

by Mel
Grootkolk, October 2010

by Tina
Grootkolk, September 2012

by ExFmem

Oct. 2009

by nan
24.1.2012 - South of Nossob

by Michele Nel
Mata Mata - Jan 2016
(c) Lisbeth

445. Swallow-tailed Bee-eater Merops hirundineus

Identification
20-22 cm. Green, yellow throat, blue gorget and black eye stripe and beak. Sexes are alike.

by nan

by Toko
Around Nossob

by Mel
March 2013

by Lisbeth

by Lisbeth

by Tina
near Dalkeith, October 2013

ExFmem wrote: Swallow-tailed bee-eaters are cavity nesters. Both sexes excavate the nest, which consists of a short tunnel widening into an egg chamber. It is usually dug into sandbanks or riverbanks. Very little is known of the chicks, other than they are fed assorted insects by both sexes.

by ExFmem
(Approaching the nesting hole with food for the chicks)
South of Urikaruus, November 2013

by Michele Nel
South of Houmoed - June 2009
by Dindingwe


by harrys