Africa Wild

I love donkeys!

This another bird who got a name from Puffy so I'll post it here


Rufous-naped Lark Mirafra africana


Marakele National Park, 17 August 2014

Identification: Size large. Shape chunky; iris light hazel brown; heavy bill blackish horn, base pinkish; legs and feet pinkish brown; primaries edged bright rufous (conspicuous in flight); belly pale buffy rufous; rufous nape seldom visible in field. Birds in S and E darker, more rufous; in W and N paler, more pinkish. Immature: Less clearly spotted on breast than adult; upperparts more scaled.

Distribution: South Africa to Somalia, Sudan and Nigeria; in South Africa absent from most of dry W.

Habitats: Open grassland with scattered perches (bushes, trees, fenceposts), Acacia savanna, cultivated lands.

Habits: Usually solitary; sometimes in pairs. Flushes reluctantly; flight bouncy with short bursts of wingbeats; drops suddenly into grass, then runs mouselike in crouched posture between grasstufts. Near nest flies about with thudding wingsnaps as distraction display. Easily overlooked when not breeding.

Food: Mainly insects; also millipedes, arachnids, seeds.

Breeding: Season: July to April (mainly November-January) throughout S Africa. Nest: Shallow domed cup of grass and rootlets set into ground at base of grasstuft, with wide side entrance. Clutch: 2-4 eggs (usually 2-3).

I am going to do some last birdies

African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp


Kruger National Park, 25 August 2014

Identification: Size large (largest wagtail in S Africa); upperparts, tail and broad breastband black; eyebrow, patch on side of neck, bold wingstripe, outer rectrices and rest of underparts white; outer rectrices conspicuous in flight. Immature: Brownish where adult black; flanks washed brownish.

Distribution: Africa S of Sahara; in South Africa mainly confined to E, and along Vaal/Orange and Kunene/Okavango river systems to Atlantic coast; vagrant to SW Cape.

Habitats: Rocks and sandbanks of larger rivers, sewage ponds, playing fields, golf courses, parks, gardens.

Habits: Solitary or in pairs when breeding; otherwise in groups of a few to several dozen birds. Walks briskly about, running now and then after prey, and jumping or flying into air to catch flying insects; on alighting, stopping, or when agitated, wags tail up and down. Tame, especially around human settlements.

Food: Insects, breadcrumbs, meal.

Breeding: Season: June to April (mainly September-October) in S Africa. Nest: Bulky foundation of rags, string, leaves, roots, grass and other dry plant material, with neat cup lined with finer grass, hair and small feathers; in niche of river bank, pile of flood debris, thatch of roof, on ledge of building or moored boat, rock shelf in cave, in hole in tree, or among creepers. Clutch: 2-5 eggs (usually 3-4). Incubation: 13 days by both sexes (mainly by ♀). Nestling: 15-16 days; fed by both parents.

Cape Longclaw Macronyx capensis


Pilanesberg, 13 August 2014

Identification: Size large (robin-sized; bigger than pipits); build chunky; legs and toes long; above buffy brown, boldy spotted and streaked dark brown; throat bright orange (paler in ♀); eyebrow and underparts bright mango yellow, shading to buff on flanks; bold black collar separates throat from breast (narrower in ♀); tail brown, tipped white (conspicuous when spread in flight). Immature: Above scalloped whitish on dark brown; below buffy yellow; breastband indistinct, spotted.

Distribution: Discontinuously from SW Cape to E Karoo, highveld of Orange Free State, Lesotho, KwaZulu-Natal, S Gauteng, Zimbabwe and S Mozambique.

Habitats: Moist short grassland, vleis, seasonally flooded grassland; usually without trees, above 600 m.

Habits: Usually in pairs; when not breeding also in small loose groups of up to 5 birds. Forages by walking with big steps across ground or tufty grass; scratches open termite tunnels with feet, chases insects on ground or hawks them in air; beats larger prey on ground before swallowing; at times stands on top of tuft or low mound to look around. When alarmed crouches low; if pressed flies off with bouncing quail-like flight, short bursts of stiff wingbeats alternating with glides; tail usually spread in flight. In display rises to about 10 m above ground, fluttering and singing; then drops to grass again; also sings from perch on low mound or fence. Droops wings and fans tail in threat posture.

Food: Insects; some grass seed.

Breeding: Season: August to December, also April, in W Cape, September to March (mainly November-December) in KwaZulu-Natal, August to April (mainly November-January) in Gauteng. Nest: Bulky bowl of coarse grass, neatly lined with rootlets; set into soil at base of grasstuft or broadleaved plant; well hidden. Clutch: 2-4 eggs (usually 3). Incubation: 13-14 days. Nestling: 16-17 days.

Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus


Tembe Elephant Park, 3 September 2014

Identification: Size large; above greyish buff, mottled and streaked with dark brown; malar streak white; eyebrow and underparts brilliant yellow (duller in ♀); bold black breastband; breast streaked black; outer rectrices and tail tip white (conspicuous when spread in flight). Immature: Above scalloped whitish on dark brown; below buffy yellowish; breastband indistinct.

Distribution: Africa S of Sahara; in South Africa confined to E.

Habitats: Rank grass, edges of vleis, swampy drainage lines, with scattered trees and bushes or in savanna or light woodland.

Habits: Usually in pairs or small groups of up to 5 or 6 birds. Forages on ground among tufty grass, walking with long strides. When disturbed may crouch on ground, but usually flies to top of tree, bush or telephone wire; sings from perch. Calls frequently in flight. Extremely wary when nesting.

Food: Insects.

Breeding: Season: October to February in KwaZulu-Natal, as late as February in Gauteng, May in Mozambique. Nest: Bulky cup of coarse grass, neatly lined with fine rootlets; set into ground at base of grasstuft or under broadleaved herb; well concealed. Clutch: 2-4 eggs (usually 3). Incubation: 13-14 days, all or mostly by ♀. Nestling: 16-17 days; fed by both parents; young hardly able to fly on leaving nest, but run well.

African Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus


Pilanesberg, 14 August 2014


Mapungubwe National Park, 22 August 2014

Identification: Size medium; very similar to Mountain, Long-billed, Plain-backed and Buffy Pipits; paler and yellower than Mountain Pipit; above brown, distinctly streaked; throat and flanks plain buffy greyish, shading to white on belly, tawny on breast; breast and malar stripe spotted dark brown (malar stripe often darker and heavier in Long-billed Pipit); outer rectrices white (buff in other similar pipits); posture erect, long-legged. In hand: Outermost 3 primaries about equal; P5 much shorter than P4; P2-4 emarginate. Iris brown; bill blackish brown, base pale yellow; legs and feet pinkish to yellowish. Immature: Above darker than adult, scalloped with off-white; below whiter with rounder spots; malar stripe blackish, heavy and conspicuous.

Distribution: Throughout South Africa to Angola.

Habitats: Open grassland and savanna, cultivated lands, airfields, playing fields, parks with big lawns, grassy sidewalks and road verges.

Habits: Solitary or in pairs when breeding; otherwise sometimes in small loose flocks, often in company with other small ground birds on burnt grassland. Runs in short bursts; dips tail 1-3 times at each pause. Perches on fence or bush when disturbed. Flight display (see Voice) mainly August to September at start of breeding season.

Food: Insects, other arthropods; some seeds.

Breeding: Season: October to December in Cape, August to January (mainly September-November) in KwaZulu-Natal, August to April (mainly October-December) in Gauteng. Nest: Cup of dry grass, lined with fine rootlets and hair; set into soil at base of grasstuft or low shrub, usually well hidden. Clutch: 2-4 eggs (usually 3). Incubation: 12-13 days by both sexes, mostly by ♀. Nestling: 12-17 days, unless disturbed; fed by both parents.

Yellow-fronted Canary Crithagra mozambica


Swaziland, Hlane, 30 August 2014


Swaziland, Hlane, 31 August 2014


Tembe Elephant Park, 4 September 2014


Mapungubwe National Park, 18 August 2014

Identification: Size small; see canary key; sexes alike. Eyebrow, cheeks, rump and underparts light yellow; crown to back dull green, streaked dark brown; eyestripe and malar stripe black; flanks greyish (diagnostic); yellow rump and white-tipped tail diagnostic in flight. Immature: Paler than adult; breast and flanks streaked brownish.

Distribution: Africa S of Sahara; in South Africa confined to SE, NE and N from about Uitenhage, E Cape, and Bloemfontein, Orange Free State, to NE Namibia.

Habitats: Any woodland, thornveld, riverine bush, gardens, parks, exotic plantations.

Habits: In pairs or small family groups when breeding; gregarious in flocks of 20-30 birds (rarely up to 100) in winter, sometimes in company with other small seedeating birds. Forages on ground or in bushes and trees; may hawk insects in air; when disturbed takes off for nearest bush with bouncing flight and tweety callnotes. Male sings from conspicuous perch; several males may sing in concert and chase each other aggressively. Common cagebird in Mozambique.

Food: Seeds (including Casuarina), insects, flowers, leaves of Hibiscus.

Breeding: Season: September to April in KwaZulu-Natal, October to April in Gauteng, September to March in Mozambique. Nest: Small cup of grass, herbs and roots, bound with spider web; lined with plant down and fine rootlets; diameter of cup about 5 cm, depth about 5 cm; 1-6 m above ground in fork of bush, tree or creeper; built by both sexes. Clutch: 2-5 eggs (usually 3-4). Incubation: 13-14,5 days by ♀ only. Nestling: 16-24 days; fed by both parents.

Lark-like Bunting Emberiza impetuani


Mapungubwe National Park, 21 August 2014

Identification: Size smallish to medium; sexes alike; nondescript brownish, with small conical bill; best identified by callnote; light buffy brown all over, paler on eyebrow and throat, streaked blackish on upperparts, wing brown, edged dull rufous (diagnostic): Iris brown; bill dark horn above, pale horn below; legs and feet pinkish brown. Immature: Similar to adult.

Distribution: Dry W parts of South Africa, to Angola, Zambia and DRC; irruptive into Zimbabwe and E Gauteng lowveld in drought years and very cold winters.

Habitats: Arid savanna, karoo, rocky slopes of koppies and dry watercourses; usually not far from water.

Habits: Gregarious at all times, sometimes in flocks of hundreds, especially at waterholes, often in company with larks. Forages on ground, walking like lark; also jumps up to get at seeds on standing grass. Flushes reluctantly, usually not flying far; flight jinking and undulating. Sings from top of rock or bush.

Food: Seeds and insects (including small green caterpillars).

Breeding: Season: September to November in W Cape, September to May in Karoo, February-March in SW Kalahari; season varies with rainfall in drier areas. Nest: Shallow cup of grass and roots in foundation of coarse sticks, lined with fine rootlets; on ground; built by ♀; ♂ accompanies ♀ on collecting trips. Clutch: 2-4 eggs (usually 3). Incubation: 13 days. Nestling: About 12-13 days.

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Emberiza tahapisi


Kruger National Park, 24 August 2014

Identification: Size medium to largish. Male: Head black; white stripe down crown, over eye, below eye and on malar region, giving boldly striped head; back rich brown, streaked black; throat speckled black and white (plain white in Cape Bunting); rest of underparts rich cinnamon (diagnostic). Female: Similar to ♂, but head dark grey, striped off-white. Immature: Similar to adult ♀.

Distribution: South Africa to Eritrea and Nigeria; also S Arabia; widespread in E and N parts of South Africa, avoiding dry W, Kalahari basin and most of S and E littoral.

Habitats: Rocky outcrops, escarpments, eroding stony slopes and dongas, dry watercourses, abandoned quarries, savanna (especially where overgrazed).

Habits: Usually solitary or in pairs; sometimes in small groups of 3-4 birds; less often in larger flocks when not breeding. Forages on ground, hopping in little shuffling steps; flies to perch on rock when disturbed; flight undulating; on alighting often does about-turn or sideways shuffle. Usually unobtrusive; best located by callnote.

Food: Seeds, insects.

Breeding: Season: December to April in Free State (rarely as early as September), November to February in KwaZulu-Natal, October to March (mainly January) in Gauteng. Nest: Shallow cup of grass in foundation of small sticks, lined with finer grass and rootlets; in shallow scrape on ground at base of grasstuft, rock or clod; when against rock, cup often incomplete at back; inside diameter 5,7 cm, depth 2 cm; on rocky slope, earth bank, crevice in rockface or open rough ground; built by ♀ only in 4-13 days; ♂ accompanies ♀ on collecting trips. Clutch: 2-4 eggs (usually 3). Incubation: 12-14 days by both sexes, mostly by ♀. Nestling: 14-16 days; fed by both parents.

Cape Bunting Emberiza capensis


Marakele National Park, 17 August 2014

Identification: Size medium; build slender; crown and back grey streaked blackish; sides of head boldly striped black and white; wings bright rusty (diagnostic); throat white; rest of underparts grey, paler on belly (diagnostic). Iris brown; bill slate black, base bluish or pinkish; legs and feet dark horn. Immature: Similar to adult, but streaked dusky on breast and flanks.

Distribution: South Africa to Angola and Malawi; widespread in South Africa except Kalahari basin and S and E littoral.

Habitats: Rocky places from high mountains to coast, including riverine gorges, even in arid country; usually near water.

Habits: Usually solitary or in pairs; sometimes in small family groups; does not flock. Forages on ground, walking with short steps, or hopping. Sings from top of rock or low bush, sometimes opening and closing wings. Flight low and somewhat jerky, not sustained; on alighting often does quick about-turn. Becomes tame around human settlement. Easily overlooked except when calling; well camouflaged on rocks.

Food: Seeds, insects, spiders.

Breeding: Season: July to January (mainly September-October) in W Cape, November to April in E Cape, October to March in Free State, October to November in Gauteng. Nest: Cup of twigs, grass and roots, untidy outside, but neatly lined inside with fine rootlets, grass and hair; on or close to ground in low bush or creeper, often next to rock. Clutch: 2-5 eggs (usually 2-3).