Truly African Birds Found in South Africa

[Klipspringer]

Is it warming up in the morning sun?

[Lisbeth]

I think that it was afternoon

[Klipspringer]

According to SASOL, they sun their bellies after feeding to accelerate digestion.

[Lisbeth]

Maybe it had lunch/dinner

[Lisbeth]

White-backed Mousebird, Upington

[Richprins]

They are quite rare in Kruger, but seem to like gardens.

[Klipspringer]

Mousebirds are unusual in having an vegetarian diet that includes substantial amount of leaves.

[Lisbeth]

Strange for a bird

[Klipspringer]

Due to this cellulose rich diet they need some extra help digesting their meal. They make use of little microbes in the gut to aid with digestion of their tough food. And mousebirds have black skin to help digestion: exposing their bellies to the sun, isn't merely sunbathing but to to heat up the stomach, enhancing microbial activity and consequently the fermentation process.
White-backed Mousebirds spend most of their time (60%) sunning. When sunning, birds oriente their ventral parts towards the sun, suggesting that exogenous heating is important for digestion.

That's what Lisbeth has captured

[Lisbeth]

For another lesson. Klippie