Africa Wild

799. White-browed Sparrow-weaver Plocepasser mahali

Idenfication:
This large plump, short-tailed weaver is distictive with its broad, white eyebrow stripe and cospicuous rump.
While the male White-browed Sparrow-Weaver sports a black bill, the female's bill is horn-colored; that of the juvenile is pinkish-brown.


Twee Rivieren Dec. 2010

by Toko
Male at Melkvlei, August 2010

by Tina
Urikaruus, September 2012

by Mel
Grootkolk, October 2012

by nan
Male and female

by ExFmem

by Michele Nel
Twee Rivieren - Jan 2015
by Dindingwe

118. Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius

Identification
Large, long-legged grey and black bird with long, loose black feathers projecting behind the head. Long, wedge-shaped tail. Body and underwing coverts grey; flight feathers black; thighs black; tail grey, terminal bar black. In flight the two elongated central tail feathers project well beyond the main tail and the legs. Adult has an orange face, immature yellow face.


Northern Nossob valley, August 2010

by Mel
Juvenile, Nossob, October 2011

by Lisbeth

by Tina
Kousant, October 2013

by nan

by ExFmem
Oct. 2013, Urikaruus

by Michele Nel
Kwang - Jan 2016
by Dindingwe


by harrys

127. Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus

Identification
33 cm. The adult Black-shouldered Kite is all grey with black shoulder patches, a white tail and a burgundy-red eye. Immature Black-winged Kites resemble adults but have brown, yellow or orange eyes, pale buff, tipped upperparts and indistinct rust-coloured markings on the underparts.

by Toko
August 2011

by Mel
Subadult, October 2011

by Tina
Dalkeith, September 2012

by ExFmem
Oct. 2011 Auob side

by nan

by Michele Nel
Auob Riverbed - Jan 2016
by Lisbeth - Nov. 2017
by Dindingwe

132. Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax

Identification
66-73 cm. An untidy, rather 'baggy-trousered' raptor. These eagles are generally tawny to rusty brown in colour, although 'blonde' morphs do occur. First-year birds may appear almost white with rusty heads due to feather wear. In flight the Tawny Eagle is uniform rusty brown above and below, it shows no barring on the tail, little white in the wings and none on the upper tail coverts.

Breeding Pairs in KTP: 25-30. Total Numbers: 60-80.

by Toko
Around Dalkeith, August 2010

by Lisbeth

by Mel
Northern Auob, March 2013


Pale Morph Form, Northern Auob, March 2013

by Tina
Marie se Draai, September 2012

by ExFmem
Oct. 2007 One of the 3 loop roads, Auob

by nan

© Michele Nel
North of Rooiputs - 17/02/2016
by Dindingwe

140. Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus

Identification
The largest eagle in Africa, the Martial eagle weighs in at almost 6.5 kg. It has a slight crest and feathered legs. The upperparts are dark brown with a black head and chest, a white belly with black streaks, the legs are white and it has very large talons. It has dark speckling on flanks and legs, and the tail and underwing are heavily barred and all dark underwings. The female is usually larger and more spotted than the male. The immature is paler above, often whitish on the head and chest, and has less spotted underparts. It reaches adult plumage in its seventh year.

Breeding Pairs in KTP: 20-30. Total Numbers: 40-60.


Auob valley, August 2011

by Mel
Around Auchterlonie, October 2013

by ExFmem
Oct. 2011

by Tina
Around Houmoed, September 2012

by nan

by Michele Nel
Just north of Auchterlonie, Oct 2013
by Lisbeth - Nov. 2017
by Dindingwe


by harrys

152. Jackal Buzzard Buteo rufofuscus

Identification
45-53 cm. Adult has very dark plumage with bright chestnut breast and barred black and white belly. Short, rufous tail. Sometimes with breast blotchy black ot all white. The flight feathers from below are white, tipped with black to form a dark trailing edge to the wing.
Immature pale, with rufous coloured underparts, shows no tail-bands.


Adult. Auob valley, around 14th, August 2011

by Mel
Subadult, Union's End, March 2013

by nan
27.1.2012 - North of Nossob

by Michele Nel
Jackal Buzzard - Nossob Hide - Jan 2016

by ExFmem
Juvenile by Lisbeth - Nov. 2017
by Dindingwe

230. Kori Bustard Ardeotis kori

Identification:
The largest bustard of the region. The size, dark crest and lack of any rufous on the hind neck and upper mantle are diagnostic.


Urikaruus water hole, December 2010.

by Mel
Female with chick, Houmoed, March 2013

by Tina
Lower Dune Road, October 2013

by Toko

by ExFmem
Oct. 2007

by nan
Kalahari Tented Camp - 8.3.2012

by Michele Nel
Kori Bustard - note the chick following :) - On dune rd to Twee Rivieren - Jan 2015
by Dindingwe


by harrys

732. Common Fiscal (arid west) Lanius collaris

Identification:
One of the most common shrikes of the region. Black above and white below with prominent white shoulder patches and a cospicuous white eyebrow stripe.


Upper dune road in December.

by Mel
April 2011

by Tina
Around Houmoed, September 2012

by nan
1.4.2013

by nan
1.4.2013 - Southern Auob river

by Michele Nel
near Mata Mata - Dec 2014
by Dindingwe

255. Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus

Identification
A large plover with a black cap surrounded by a white 'halo'. The legs and basal part of the bill are red. The sandy brown breast is seperated from the white belly by a black band.

by Lisbeth
Close to Nossob in December.

by Mel
Grootkolk area, October 2013

by Toko

by nan

by Tina
Chick, near Gemsbokplein, September 2012

by ExFmem
Oct. 2007 Plover on nest with eggs. Overlook at Urikaruus waterhole

by Michele Nel
Auob Riverbed - Jan 2016
by Dindingwe

161. Gabar Goshawk Melierax gabar

Identification
30-34 cm. Normal adult identified by grey throat and breast plus deep red eyes, red cere and legs and, in flight, by broad, white rump-patch. It has largely grey upperparts, conspicuous white and grey barring on the chest, thighs and underwings, a white rump and a dark grey, barred tail.
Less common melanistic form, which accounts on average for 10 to 25 percent of the overall population, is almost completely black but has same colours of soft parts but lacks the white rump.
In both types of adult the eyes are deep dark red. Adult females are significantly larger than adult males, and weigh around 90 percent more.
Immature: boldly blotched rufous all over head, neck and breast, eyes yellow, cere and legs coral. In flight shows white rump.

by Toko
Juvenile. August 2011.

by Tina
Adult. Near Lijersdraai, October 2013

by nan
Adult - 26.3.2013

by Mel
Melanisitc form (adult), around Auchterlonie, March 2013

by nan
Melanisitc form with yellow eyes (!), 16.2.2016 South of KTC (13th/14th)


by ExFmem
(c) Michele Nel - Nossob Camp 06/01/2016
by Peter Betts
Juv. Gabar Goshawk - Dalkeith
by Dindingwe
Melanistic!