Africa Wild

488. Olive Woodpecker Dendropicos griseocephalus (Gryskopspeg)
Order: Piciformes. Family: Picidae



Description
20 cm. The Olive Woodpecker is the only woodpecker in the Southern African region that is not speckled, and has plain olive green plumage with a bright red rump patch and a grey head and throat. Legs and feet are greyish-black; bill is black; eyes are dark red. Both sexes of the Olive Woodpecker lack any distinctive facial markings.
The male has a red crown and grey head, while the female’s head is entirely grey.
Juvenile is duller olive green but immature males have a reduced red crown spotted with black.
Race D. g. ruwenzori (Zambezi) has red belly and plumage is gold-tinged.

Habitat
Evergreen forests, forest margins and nearby woodlands and well-wooded suburban gardens.

Distribution
It has two isolated subspecies in Africa - one in Central Africa and the other in the southern and eastern parts of South Africa.
It is found in Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Taxonomy
Dendropicos griseocephalus has three subspecies:
Namibia to Zaire, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Malawi: D. g. ruwenzori
Humid montane forests of Tanzania: D. g. kilimensis
Extreme southern Mozambique to eastern and southern South Africa: D. g. griseocephalus

Diet
Olive Woodpeckers feed mainly on insect larvae and pupae which they extract from under the bark of the trees in which they feed. Their strong beaks and long barbed tongues are well adapted to this task.

Breeding
Olive Woodpeckers are monogamous and nest in holes which they excavate in dead trees, usually well above the ground. Both sexes excavate the nest. Egg-laying season is from August-November, peaking from September to October. The female lays a clutch of two or three white eggs that are incubated by both sexes for roughly 15-16 days. The chicks are cared for by both parents, leaving the nest at about 24-26 days old. The juveniles return to the nest to roost for about 3 months, after which they become fully independent. hatch after an incubation period of approximately 15 days.
The nest may be parasitized by the Scaly-throated Honeyguide.

Call
The call of the Olive Woodpecker, uttered by both sexes, is a loud wee-rit, wee-rit, wee-rit. Listen to Bird Call.

Status
Fairly common resident.

488. Olive Woodpecker Dendropicos griseocephalus
Order: Piciformes. Family: Picidae

© Sharifa
Female

© Toko
Male. Swaziland, Mlilwane.

Links:
Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds
Sabap2

The parrots are a broad order of more than 350 birds. Macaws, Amazons, lorikeets, lovebirds, cockatoos and many others are all considered parrots. Though there is great diversity among these birds, there are similarities as well. All parrots have curved beaks and all are zygodactyls, meaning they have four toes on each foot, two pointing forward and two projecting backward. Most parrots eat fruit, flowers, buds, nuts, seeds, and some small creatures such as insects.
The most obvious physical characteristic is the strong, curved, broad bill. The upper mandible is prominent, curves downward, and comes to a point. It is not fused to the skull, which allows it to move independently, and contributes to the tremendous biting pressure the birds are able to exert. The lower mandible is shorter, with a sharp, upward-facing cutting edge, which moves against the flat portion of the upper mandible in an anvil-like fashion. There are touch receptors along the inner edges of the kerantinised bill, which are collectively known as the 'bill tip organ', allowing for highly dextrous manipulations. Seed-eating parrots have a strong tongue (containing similar touch receptors to those in the bill tip organ), which helps to manipulate seeds or position nuts in the bill so that the mandibles can apply an appropriate cracking force. The head is large, with eyes positioned high and laterally in the skull, so the visual field of parrots are unlike any other birds. Without turning its head, a parrot can see from just below its bill tip, all above its head, and to quite far behind its head. Parrots also have quite a wide frontal binocular field for a bird, although this is nowhere near as large as primate binocular visual fields.
Parrots have strong zygodactyl feet with sharp, elongated claws, which are used for climbing and swinging. Most species are capable of using their feet to manipulate food and other objects with a high degree of dexterity, in a similar manner to a human using his hands. The predominant colour of plumage in parrots is green, though most species have some red or another colour in small quantities.
Parrots are found in warm climates all over most of the world. The greatest diversities exist in Australasia, Central America, and South America.
Although there are a few exceptions, parrots are monogamous breeders which nest in cavities and hold no territories other than their nesting sites. The pair bonds of the parrots and cockatoos are strong and a pair remains close even during the non-breeding season, even if they join larger flocks. As with many birds, pair bond formation is preceded by courtship displays. In Psittacidae parrots common breeding displays, usually undertaken by the male, include slow deliberate steps known as a "parade" or "stately walk" and the "eye-blaze", where the pupil of the eye constricts to reveal the edge of the iris. Allopreening is used by the pair to help maintain the bond.
Most parrots nest in cavities, either tree hollows or cavities dug into cliffs, banks or the ground. In most species the female undertakes all the incubation. The female remains in the nest for almost all of the incubation period and is fed both by the male and during short breaks. Incubation varies from 17 to 35 days, with larger species having longer incubation periods. The newly born young are altricial, either lacking feathers or with sparse white down. The young spend anything from three weeks to four months in the nest, depending on species, and may receive parental care for several months thereafter.
Many parrots are kept as pets, especially macaws, Amazon parrots, cockatiels, parakeets, and cockatoos. These birds have been popular companions throughout history because they are intelligent, charismatic, colorful, and musical. Some birds can imitate many nonavian sounds, including human speech. The male African gray parrot (Psittacus erithacus) is the most accomplished user of human speech in the animal world; this rain forest-dweller is an uncanny mimic.
Currently the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) bans the sale of any wild-caught species, yet the parrots' popularity continues to drive illegal trade.
Some parrot species are highly endangered. In other cases, once tame birds have reproduced in the wild and established thriving feral populations in foreign ecosystems.

This was huge family of about 330 species. Now, however, following new evidence on lineages within the parrots [e.g., Schweizer et al. 2011, Joseph et al. 2013, Rheindt et al. 2014], both Cracraft (2013) and the South American Checklist Committee (2014) have adopted a four-family solution.

Families:
New Zealand Parrots Family Strigopidae
Cockatoos Family Cacatuidae
African & New World Parrots Family Psittacidae
Old World Parrots Family Psittaculidae


Two families of parrots are found in Southern Africa:

ORDER PSITTACIFORMES
Family Psittacidae (African & New World Parrots)
Family Psittaculidae (Old World Parrots)

Traditionally, all birds in the Order Psittaciformes were placed in a single Parrot family:
All have strong beaks, which are capable of cracking open the toughest of seeds and nuts, which they can manipulate with dextrous feet. This is facilitated by the arrangement of their toes - two point forwards, and two back (a condition called zygodactyly, which they share with the cuckoos and woodpeckers), which also provides an extremely powerful grasp. Highly vocal, they are generally monogamous and most usually pair for life.
Characteristics shared by birds in this family include:
•Stocky build with large head, upright posture and short legs
•Brilliantly colourful plumage though often without obvious sexual dimorphism
•Highly developed syrinx that includes the ability to mimic human speech
•Large, curved bill suited for a herbivorous diet, often specialized for frugivorous or granivorous feeding

The Birds of Africa, Volume 3: Parrots to Woodpeckers

The "new" family Psittacidae has all the New World parrots plus two African genera (Psittacus and Poicephalus; together they might be called "gray parrots"). Together these comprise 48% of the "traditional" parrots. The remaining 52% are now assigned to the family Psittaculidae, composed of all the Lories, Lovebirds, and all remaining Old World parrots (excepting the two African genera).
The reduced Psittacidae is still a large and interesting lot.

The molecular evidence suggests that the main lineages of modern parrots split about 34–39 mya (Schweizer et al. 2011, Rheindt et al. 2014). The ancestors of today Psittacidae presumable arose on continental Pangaea which broke up into today's continents 150-140 mya. The separation between African and South America was not complete and widened by the South Atlantic Ocean until the late Cretaceous which ended about 66 mya. The molecular evidence suggest that the New World parrots remain relatives of two modern genera in Africa. One genus is Psittacus (African Gray Parrot) and the other is Poicephalus. The latter are mid-sized, short-tailed, rather squat parrots that are widely distributed in Africa. Examples include Senegal Parrot of west Africa and Brown-headed Parrot of southeastern African.
The famous African Gray Parrot of the Congo Basin to west Africa. It is considered the best "talking" parrot of them all. In truly wild country, African Grays gather in communal roosts for the evening; up to 10,000 have been counted in a roost in Gabon. Just imagine that sound!

Family Psittacidae (African Gray Parrots)
Poicephalus
Poicephalus fuscicollis Brown-necked Parrot, Grey-headed Parrot 362.1
Poicephalus robustus Cape Parrot 362
Poicephalus meyeri Meyer's Parrot 364
Poicephalus rueppellii Rüppell's Parrot 365
Poicephalus cryptoxanthus Brown-headed Parrot 363

362.1. Brown-necked Parrot, Grey-headed Parrot Poicephalus fuscicollis (Savannepapegaai)
Order: Psittaciformes. Family: Psittacidae

Description
Length about 33 cm. Body mainly green, brighter below and on rump; head and neck silvery grey; forehead pinkish red in female, rarely also in male; thighs and bend of wing bright orange-red. Iris brown; bill horn; small bare patch around eye pale grey; legs and feet bluish grey.
Juvenile: Similar to adult, but lacks red patches on thighs and wings.
Similar species: Cape Parrot and Grey-headed Parrot are the largest parrots in the region, but confusion is unlikely as their ranges do not overlap.

Distribution
Occurs from southern DRC and Tanzania to Zambia, Angola, Malawi to southern Africa, where it is uncommon in the Caprivi Strip (Namibia), northern Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Limpopo Province and south-eastern South Africa.

P. f. fuscicollis: Senegal and Gambia to ec Nigeria and n Angola
P. f. suahelicus: c Tanzania and Rwanda to ne South Africa and sc Angola



Habitat
It generally prefers woodland habitats, such as Mopane (Colosphermum mopane), miombo (Brachystegia) and riparian woodland.

Diet
It almost exclusively eats fruit, mainly foraging in the upper tree canopy, using its bill to scale up branches.

Breeding
It nests in natural tree cavities, usually in the trunk or the underside of a branch. Egg-laying season is from March-June. It lays 2-4 eggs, which are incubated solely by the female for 28-30 days. The male helps out by bringing food to the female. During the nestling period the male does most of the foraging, while the female broods and cares for the chicks. They learn to fly when they are about 68-83 days old, becoming fully independent 4-5 months later.

Call
High-pitched shrieks.

Status
Uncommon resident.

362.1 Brown-necked Parrot, Grey-headed Parrot Poicephalus fuscicollis

© General Gump
Poicephalus fuscicollis suahelicus, Mahonie Loop, Kruger National Park

Links:
Sabap2: http://sabap2.adu.org.za/species_info.p ... #menu_left

362. Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus
ORDER PSITTACIFORMES. Family: Psittacidae

362. Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus

©

©


Links:

364. Meyer's Parrot Poicephalus meyeri (Bosveldpapegaai)
Order: Psittaciformes. Family: Psittacidae


Description
A small and stocky African parrot, averaging 21-25 cm in length. Their wing length is about 141-149 cm. They weigh about 100-135 g.
The plumage of the Meyer's Parrot is mostly brownish-grey with yellow patches on the bend of the wings and thighs and depending on the subspecies also on the head. Their abdomen is green or a vivid blue or turquoise and the rump can be blue or turquoise. The upper side of the tail is brown and the underside is dark grey. Their feet are dark gray. The eye (periophthalmic) rings are black and the bill is black. Male and female are alike.
Juvenile is duller and lacks the yellow patch on the head.
Similar species: May be confused with Ruppell's Parrot in north-central Namibia, where their ranges overlap. Differs from Ruppell's Parrot by having a green, not blue rump and belly, and a brown, not grey head.

Taxonomy
There are six subspecies of Meyer's
Poicephalus meyeri meyeri - Meyer's Parrot (s Chad to w Ethiopia)
Poicephalus meyeri reichenowi - Angola Brown Parrot (c Angola to s Congo)
Poicephalus meyeri damarensis - Damaraland Brown Parrot (n Namibia, s Angola and nw Botswana)
Poicephalus meyeri matchiei - East African Brown Parrot (c Tanzania, se Congo, Zambia and n Malawi)
Poicephalus meyeri transvaalensis - South African Brown Parrot (Botswana, Zimbabwe and n South Africa)
Poicephalus meyeri saturatus - Uganda Yellow-shouldered, Kenya Meyer (Uganda and w Kenya to w Tanzania)
with varying degrees of yellow coloration on the crown and wings, with the western races P. m. damarensis and P. m. reichenowi even having none. P. m. transvaalensis may have little or not yellow on head.
All have a grayish brown upper body with a bluish green chest, with green under-parts and blue on the topside of the rump. Eyes in the mature birds are orange-red, with a grayish black beak.

Distribution
It is widely distributed throughout Central and East Africa to southern Africa. Within southern Africa it is locally common in north-eastern Namibia (including the Caprivi Strip), northern and eastern Botswana, Zimbabwe, northern Mozambique and north-eastern South Africa.



Habitat
It inhabits most of the timbered country including the savannah woodlands.

Diet
Meyer's Parrot eats a variety of seeds, nuts, vegetation, and wild berries.

Breeding
Breeding takes place toward the end of the rainy season. Egg-laying season is from March-August, peaking from April-May. Meyer's Parrots nest in a hollow tree at a considerable height from the ground, which are sometimes old nests of woodpeckers and barbets. It sometimes uses the same nest hole in multiple breeding seasons. The clutch comprises two or three eggs, which are incubated solely by the female for about 29-31 days. The chicks are fed by both parents, who regurgitate the food upside down. The chicks will fledge approximately nine weeks after hatching. Meyer's Parrots are ready to breed when they are about 3 to 4 years old.

Call
A loud piercing chee-chee-chee-chee plus other screeches and squawks. Listen to Bird Call.

Status
Scarce to locally common. Meyers Parrot is generally seen singly or in pairs although when food is plentiful may be seen in larger parties of 10 – 20. The Poicephalus meyeri is on the IUCN Red List for Endangered Species as Least Concern (LC).

364. Meyer's Parrot Poicephalus meyeri (Bosveldpapegaai)





© PRWIN

© Kesheshe
Poicephalus meyeri damarensis

© Kesheshe
Etosha National Park, Nambia

Links:
Species text Sabap1
Sabap2