Truly African Birds Found in South Africa

[Dzombo]

Not on the list
But for me, nothing conjures the feeling of the African bush quite like the sound of the Fish Eagle

[Klipspringer]

Probably the most popular bird for many people, but not unique, very similar to the other sea eagles in the genus Haliaeetus.

[Klipspringer]

The Helmeted guineafowl is an opportunistic feeder and scratches through the dung of large herbivores, looking for insects and undigested seeds.

[Klipspringer]

The uniquie Secretarybird
Sagittarius serpentarius

This elegant, long-legged bird kills its prey by repeatedly stamping on it.

It has an unmistakable appearance, with an eagle-like body on top of long powerful legs. Unlike most raptors, it is a terrestrial hunter stalking the open savanna or grasslands for one of its many prey species. Despite being predominantly terrestrial, the Secretarybird can soar up to great heights of 3,000m. The Secretarybird consumes small prey whole, even highly venomous puff adders and cobras are killed by several rapid blows to the head.

The species has a huge range across the African continent from as far north as Mali to as far south as South Africa. There have been reports from many of the 36 countries within its range that local populations are in decline.

There has been much debate as to whether the Secretarybird should belong to its own separate family, with many people positioning it in the monospecific Sagittariidae. Either way, it diverged prior to the divergence of the other members of the Accipitridae and is positioned at the base of this group in the phylogenetic tree.

[Lisbeth]

[Klipspringer]

Male and female?

[Lisbeth]

There isn't much difference, I think. The male has a longer tail and more feathers on the head?

[Klipspringer]

Secretarybirds are kung-fu killers, they have developed a martial arts method to feast on snake flesh. These birds avoid bites by delivering several rapid-fire blows to a snake’s skull. One study found that on average it took just 15 milliseconds for the bird to strike the snake’s head. Delivering a 20-kilogram-force blow to the head, secretary birds are able to disarm a venomous snake without feeling the force of their bite.

[Klipspringer]

The turacos make up the bird family Musophagidae, which includes the go-away-birds. In southern Africa both turacos and go-away-birds were formerly known as loeries.

They are semi-zygodactylous: the fourth (outer) toe can be switched back and forth. The second and third toes, which always point forward, are conjoined in some species. Musophagids often have prominent crests and long tails; the turacos are noted for peculiar and unique pigments giving them their bright green and red feathers.

All species are frugivorous, but they also eat leaves, buds, and flowers. Figs are an important part of their diet. They have rounded wings and long tails and strong legs, making them poor fliers, but good runners.

Turacos are medium-sized arboreal birds endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, where they live in forests, woodland and savanna.

They are gregarious, non-migratory birds which move in family groups of up to 10. Many species are noisy, with the go-away-birds being especially noted for their piercing alarm calls, which alert other fauna to the presence of predators; their common name is onomatopoeia of this. Musophagids build large stick nests in trees, and lay 2 or 3 eggs.


Species indigenous to southern Africa:
Tauraco livingstonii Livingstone's Turaco
Tauraco schalowi Schalow's Turaco
Tauraco corythaix Knysna Turaco
Tauraco porphyreolophus Purple-crested Turaco
Musophaga rossae Ross's Turaco
Corythaixoides concolor Grey Go-away-bird

[Klipspringer]

TheThe IOC World Bird List (version 10.1) recognises 23 species of turaco in six genera in the avian family Musophagidae' (commonly called turacos); they have a number of physical and anatomical characteristics that set them apart from many other birds.

Feathers
Probably the most distinguishing feature of these birds are two unique pigments deposited in their feather keratin. One, turacoverdin, is a green pigment found in all species of Tauraco and Musophaga, and in Corythaeola cristata. The other, turacin, provides the red colored feathers in species of the first two genera.
Another uncommon feature of these birds is that the feathers of the head and breast of most species are deficient in barbules so that they seem
hairy or have a "down-like texture." These feathers make up the characteristic erectile "crests" found on all but three of the species.


Feet
These birds are defined as having semi-zygodactyl feet with the fourth toe being reversible and not permanently directed backwards. A typical
resting position will find the outer toe at approximate right angles to the main axis of the foot, but it can be moved further back or directed forward, depending upon the bird's perching needs. Additionally, the claws are short and abruptly curved.


Beak
All turacos have short strong beaks with curved culmen.
The nostrils are located on the beak but vary in shape and position. Some species have slit-shaped nares while others have circles; in many species the nostrils are covered with feathers.
The tongue is short and thick and of a triangular shape, consistent with the tongue shape found in other frugivorous birds.


Digestive System
Turacos have no crop but do have an exceptionally large and well developed proventriculus, with walls twice as thick as those of the gizzard.