Thursday, 4 July 2019
27-5-2019 SOMALISA CAMP, ZIMBABWE - SOUTHERN CORDONBLEU (MALE) (Uraeginthus angolensis)
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The blue waxbill (Uraeginthus angolensis), also called southern blue waxbill, blue-breasted waxbill, southern cordon-bleu, blue-cheeked cordon-bleu, blue-breasted cordon-bleu and Angola cordon-bleu, is a common species of estrildid finch found in Southern Africa. It is also relatively commonly kept as an aviary bird.
The blue waxbill has powder-blue face, breast, rump, and flanks with pale brown upperparts. The female is paler than the male and the blue is confined to the rump, tail, head, and upper breast, with the rest of the underparts being buffy brown. They measure 12–13 cm in length.
The call is a soft 'seee-seee', often repeated as bird flits through the lower parts of bush and scrub.
The blue waxbill occurs in southern Africa from Cabinda and the Congo to Kenya and Tanzania in the east south to northern South Africa. It may have been introduced to the islands of São Tomé and to Zanzibar.
The blue waxbill occurs in a variety of habitats but generally prefers well-watered and semi-arid savanna, particularly where umbrella thorns Vachellia tortilis grow, also occupying natural growth in cultivated land, mopane Colosphermum mopane and forest edges.
27-5-2019 SOMALISA CAMP, ZIMBABWE - BLACKSMITH LAPWING (Vanellus armatus)
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The Blacksmith lapwing is a large, boldly patterned bird from sub-Saharan Africa, named for its metallic "tink-tink" call that resembles a blacksmith's hammer. It is identifiable by its black, white, and gray plumage, red eyes, and long legs. These birds are highly territorial and aggressive in defending their nests, using a sharp spur on their wings for defense and sometimes attacking much larger animals.
Physical description
Plumage: A striking black, white, and gray pattern, with a black head and breast, and a white forehead and belly.
Size: Medium-sized, about 30 cm long with long legs.
Unique features: Red eyes and a sharp carpal (wrist) spur used for defense.
Coloration: Juveniles are brownish and spotted, providing camouflage.
26-5-2019 SOMALISA, ZIMBABWE - RED BILLED SPURFOWL (Pternistis adspersus)
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The Red-billed Spurfowl is a medium-sized, ground-dwelling bird native to southern Africa, identifiable by its reddish bill, red legs, and a distinctive yellow eye-ring. It prefers dry, bushy habitats like savannas and scrublands, where it forages for seeds, insects, and small plants. These birds are known for their loud, crowing calls and can be found in countries including Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Identification
Color: Predominantly brown or grayish-brown with fine, intricate barring on the belly, head, and back.
Distinctive features: A red bill, red legs, and a broad, yellow eye-ring that is very prominent. Juveniles have a reduced eye-ring and diffuse barring.
Size: Males are larger, about 38 cm (15 in) long, while females are slightly smaller at around 33 cm (13 in).
Habitat and diet
Habitat: Found in dry savannas, grasslands, woodlands, and scrublands with dense vegetation for cover. They are often seen near rivers and water sources.
Diet: Primarily eats seeds, insects, and small plants. They forage on the ground, often scratching through sandy areas and even animal droppings for seeds.
Behavior
Call: Makes a harsh, crowing, territorial call, often described as "chak, chak, chak, CHAK, chakitty".
Foraging: Forages for food on the ground, typically in the early morning and late afternoon.
Breeding: The breeding season is year-round and depends on rainfall. Their nest is a simple scrape in the ground, lined with grass.
Distribution
Native range: Southern Africa.
Countries: Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Other facts
Scientific name: Pternistis adspersus.
Classification: It is a type of game bird in the family Phasianidae.
Scientific name origin: The species name adspersus comes from Latin and means "sprinkling" or "scattered," possibly referring to the bird's speckled appearance.
Predators: Vulnerable to birds of prey and small mammalian carnivores.
26-5-2019 SOMALISA, ZIMBABWE - DARK CHANTING GOSHAWK (Melierax metabates)
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The Dark Chanting Goshawk is a medium-sized raptor found throughout sub-Saharan Africa and parts of the Arabian Peninsula, recognized by its slate-gray plumage, long tail, and orange-red legs and cere. These hawks are generalist hunters, feeding on a wide range of prey including insects, rodents, and small birds, and are known for their melodic "chanting" call. They prefer wooded savanna and other woodland habitats but are adaptable to human-modified landscapes, though they face threats from habitat loss in some areas.
Plumage: Adults are slate-gray with finer gray and white barring on the belly and underparts. The rump is gray and barred, which helps distinguish it from other chanting-goshawks.
Appearance: The species has a tall, long-tailed shape, with long legs and an upright stance.
Legs and Cere: The legs and cere (the waxy, colored part of the beak) are a distinct orange-red.
Flight: In flight, the wing tips and flight feathers are dark, and the tail has broad black and white bars.
26-5-2019 SOMALISA, ZIMBABWE - MAGPIE SHRIKE (Corvinella melanoleuca)
The Magpie Shrike, also known as the African Long-tailed Shrike, is a striking bird belonging to the family Laniidae. It is characterized by its elongated tail and contrasting black and white plumage, reminiscent of the European magpie, though they are not closely related.
This species can be identified by its long tail, which is almost the length of its body, and its black and white coloration. The bird's back is predominantly black, with white underparts and a white patch on the wing. The head is black with a white belly and flanks, and the eyes are keen and alert.
The Magpie Shrike is native to the grasslands of eastern and southeastern Africa. It thrives in dry savannah, moist savannah, and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, preferring open areas with scattered acacia trees, close-grazed turf, and bare ground.
This bird is found across a range of African countries, including Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It is common in places within this range.
The Magpie Shrike is a gregarious and social bird, often found in noisy groups of about a dozen. These groups occupy a home range of several tens of hectares. During the breeding season, they display a variety of behaviors such as bowing, tail flicking, wing raising, and whistling to communicate and establish bonds.
The calls of the Magpie Shrike include a variety of whistles and chatters. During courtship, the male and female may perform duets, which are an integral part of their breeding rituals.
Breeding occurs cooperatively during the rainy season. The birds defend a breeding territory of about three hectares from other groups. The female may call from the nest while the male brings her food, indicating a strong pair bond during this period.
The diet of the Magpie Shrike consists mainly of arthropods, insects, lizards, small mammals, and occasionally fruit. They forage by perching in elevated positions and scanning the ground for prey, adeptly catching most on the ground, though they are also capable of snatching flying insects mid-air.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed the Magpie Shrike as being of "Least Concern," indicating that, at present, there are no immediate threats to its population numbers that would warrant a higher level of concern.
26-5-2019 SOMALISA, ZIMBABWE - GREATER BLUE EARED STARLING (Lamprotornis chalybaeus)
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The greater blue-eared starling, or Lamprotornis chalybaeus, is a striking bird adorned in glossy blue-green plumage with a purple-blue belly and a distinctive blue ear patch. This bird measures approximately 22 cm in length and sports a short tail. The iris of this species is a vivid yellow or orange, adding to its captivating appearance. Both sexes exhibit similar coloration, though juveniles can be distinguished by their duller feathers and blackish-brown underparts.
When identifying the greater blue-eared starling, look for its glossy blue-green upperparts and purple-blue belly. The blue ear patch is a key feature, along with its bright yellow or orange iris. Juveniles are less lustrous and have darker underparts. This species can be confused with the lesser blue-eared starling, but the latter's blue belly does not extend forward of the legs.
The greater blue-eared starling is commonly found in open woodland environments, where it thrives and breeds.
This bird has a broad range across the African continent, from Senegal in the west, stretching east to Ethiopia, and then southward through eastern Africa to northeastern South Africa and Angola. It is known to undertake seasonal migrations within this range.
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The greater blue-eared starling is a highly social bird, often seen in large flocks that may include other starling species. It is also known to roost communally in reedbeds, thorn bushes, or acacia trees, sometimes sharing these spaces with other birds.
The vocal repertoire of the greater blue-eared starling includes a variety of musical and grating calls. A commonly heard call is a nasal "squee-ar," which is quite distinctive.
Breeding pairs of greater blue-eared starlings make their nests in tree holes, which can be naturally occurring or previously excavated by woodpeckers or barbets. They are also known to utilize the large stick nests of the sacred ibis or Abdim's stork. Their nests typically contain three to five greenish-blue eggs adorned with brown or purple spots. These eggs hatch after about 13–14 days, and the fledglings leave the nest approximately 23 days post-hatching. The species is occasionally parasitized by the great spotted cuckoo and, less frequently, by the greater honeyguide.
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An omnivorous bird, the greater blue-eared starling's diet is predominantly insectivorous, foraging mainly on the ground for a variety of invertebrates. It also consumes seeds and berries, with a particular fondness for figs. Additionally, these starlings are known to perch on livestock, picking off insects disturbed by the animals and sometimes removing ectoparasites.
The IUCN Red List classifies the greater blue-eared starling as Least Concern, indicating that the species does not currently face any significant threats to its survival.
4-7-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - JUNE BEETLE (Anoxia australis)
Damage and control Adults: Generally cause minor damage, but in high numbers, can cause significant defoliation.Larvae: Can damage the root systems of plants, stunting growth or, in severe cases, killing younger or stressed trees.Control: Control measures include chemical and biological agents, and managing populations in a way that doesn't harm the wider ecosystem. Behavioral characteristics Activity: Adults are active at dusk and dawn, flying to find mates.Flight: Attracted to light, they can be seen flying around lamps.Mating: Adults gather on trees to mate, and sometimes multiple males mate with a single female.Predators: Adults and larvae are preyed upon by other organisms, such as Carabid beetles.
Wednesday, 3 July 2019
26-5-2019 SOMALISA, ZIMBABWE - GREY GO AWAY BIRD (Crinifer concolor)
The grey go-away-bird (Crinifer concolor), also known as grey lourie, grey loerie, or kwêvoël, is a bold and common turaco of the southern Afrotropics. They are present in arid to moist, open woodlands and thorn savanna, especially near surface water. They regularly form groups and parties that forage in tree tops, or dust bathe on the ground. Especially when disturbed, they make their presence known by their characteristically loud and nasal "kweh" or "go-way" calls, with the last syllable typically a descending drawl. Within their range, their unique appearance and habits preclude confusion with other bird species.
The grey go-away-bird was formally described in 1833 by the Scottish zoologist Andrew Smith from specimens collected inland from Port Natal (now Durban) in South Africa. He coined the binomial name Corythaix concolor. The specific epithet concolor is Latin meaning "uniform", "similar in colour" or "plain". The grey go-away-bird is now placed in the genus Crinifer that was introduced by the Polish zoologist Feliks Paweł Jarocki in 1821.
The sexes are similar. They measure 47–51 cm from bill tip to tail tip, and weigh some 200 to 300 g. They have an almost uniform smoky-grey plumage with long tails and (similar to mousebirds) a wispy, back-swept crest of some 6 to 7 cm in length. The crest can be raised almost vertically when excited. The strong, decurved beak is black and the gape and tongue strikingly pink. The plumage is darkest grey on the chin and throat, and palest around the eyes and on the belly. The breast plumage is washed slightly olive like that of its near relative, the bare-faced go-away-bird.
It is native to southern Angola, southern DRC, Zambia, southern Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Eswatini. It occupies any arid to moist, and relatively open savanna woodlands, especially where Acacia trees are present. They frequent the edges of miombo woodland, and occur commonly along water courses, dry riparian forest and in Acacia woodland on alluvium. It also occurs commonly on farms and in suburban gardens and parks. They require water, and disperse along tributaries of desert rivers when water flows. It is absent from areas that lack suitable fruiting trees, and seems to desert areas where woody plant encroachment occurs. They have no regular migrations, but wander about irregularly in search of food and water.
Close-up views of the pink gape and tongue, and the wispy crest
Though their flight is rather slow and laboured, they can cover long distances. Once in the open tree tops however, they can display the agility which is associated with the Musophagidae, as they run along tree limbs and jump from branch to branch. They can form groups and parties numbering even 20 to 30 that move about in search of fruit and insects near the tree tops.Its diet is mainly fruit (such as wild figs and berries), flowers, buds, leaves, termites, and snails. Fruit are obtained from plants in the genera Ficus, Viscum, Loranthus, Diospyros, Lannea, Ziziphus, Salvadora and Flueggea, among others. They also feed on fruit of exotic invasives like seringa, and disperse their seeds.
The flimsy nest platform is built from fairly thin, and often thorny sticks. It has the appearance of a substantial dove's nest, and their almost round, white eggs can be seen from below. Usually three eggs are laid in a nest that is placed at the center of an isolated tree. The adults share all parental duties, and the chicks start clambering about before they are able to fly. The chicks are covered in dense brownish down, and are fed regurgitated food by the parents. The breeding season is July to August in Angola, April to November in Malawi, August to September in Zambia, Sept and December to April in Namibia, and all months in Zimbabwe and South Africa.
26-5-2019 SOMALISA, ZIMBABWE - CROWNED HORNBILL (Lophoceros alboterminatus)
The crowned hornbill is a medium-sized bird with a black back and wings, a white belly and tail corners, and a yellow eye. It is omnivorous, eating fruits and small animals like lizards and insects. A unique nesting behavior is that the female seals herself in a tree cavity and is fed by the male through a narrow slit until the young are ready to hatch.
Appearance and size
Size: 50–54 cm (20–21 in) in length, weighing between 180–332 g depending on sex.
Plumage: Sooty-brown with a white eyebrow, white belly, and white tips on its tail feathers.
Bill: Red or orange with a yellowish line at the base and a casque on top. Males have a larger casque than females.
Eyes: Yellow.
Diet and behavior
Diet: Omnivorous, eating a variety of fruits, seeds, and small animals like lizards, millipedes, termites, and small birds.
Social: Lives in small family groups or flocks.
Habitat: Found in lush woodland, forest, and forest edges in eastern and southern Africa.
Reproduction and nesting
Nest: Nests in tree cavities, sometimes used repeatedly.
Female behavior: The female seals herself inside the tree cavity with a mixture of droppings, mud, and debris, leaving only a narrow slit for the male to pass food through.
Eggs: Lays 2–5 eggs, typically 3–4.
Incubation: The female incubates the eggs for 25–27 days.
Fledging: Chicks stay in the nest for 46–55 days and must break down the entrance to get out once they are able to fly.
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