Friday, 26 November 2021
2-6-2019 LINYANTI, BOTSWANA - DICKINSON'S KESTREL (Falco dickinsonii)
Dickinson's kestrel (Falco dickinsoni) is a bird of prey of southern and eastern Africa belonging to the falcon family Falconidae. It is named after John Dickinson, an English physician and missionary who collected the type specimen. It is also known as the white-rumped kestrel. Its closest relatives are the grey kestrel and banded kestrel and the three are sometimes placed in the subgenus Dissodectes.
It is a fairly small, stocky kestrel with a large, square head. It is 27–30 cm (11–12 in) long with a wingspan of 61–68 cm (24–27 in) and a weight of 167–246 g (5.9–8.7 oz). The female is about 4% larger and 10-20% heavier than the male. The plumage is mostly dark grey with a pale head and rump. The tail is grey with narrow black bars and a broad subterminal band. The underside of the flight feathers are also barred. The cere and feet are yellow and there is bare yellow skin around the eye. The bill is dark grey and the eyes are brown. Juvenile birds are grey-brown with barred flanks and without the paler head and rump. They have a greenish cere and eye-ring.
It is usually silent but has a high-pitched alarm and contact call. At the nest, a soft, mewing call attracts the young for feeding.
It inhabits savanna and open woodland, particularly swampy areas near water. It favours miombo woodland and is typically associated with palm trees (such as Hyphaene and Borassus species) and is also often found near baobab trees. It occurs in coconut plantations in some areas.
Its range covers most of Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi along with north-eastern South Africa (mainly in Kruger National Park), northern Botswana, north-east Namibia, eastern Angola, southern Democratic Republic of the Congo and parts of Tanzania. It is an occasional visitor to Kenya. The total range is about 3,400,000 km2 (1,300,000 sq mi). It is generally rather scarce but is commoner in some areas such as Zanzibar and Pemba Islands. Loss of palm trees is a potential threat to the species.
3-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - COMMON WATERBUCK (Kobus ellipsiprymnus ssp. ellipsiprymnus)
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The waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) is a large antelope found widely in sub-Saharan Africa. It is in the genus Kobus of the family Bovidae. It was first described by Irish naturalist William Ogilby in 1833. Its 13 subspecies are grouped under two varieties: the common or ellipsiprymnus waterbuck and the defassa waterbuck. Their coat colour varies from brown to grey. The long, spiral horns, present only on males, curve backward, then forward, and are 55–99 cm (22–39 in) long.
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Waterbucks are rather sedentary in nature. As gregarious animals, they may form herds consisting of six to thirty individuals. These groups are either nursery herds with females and their offspring or bachelor herds. Males start showing territorial behaviour from the age of five years, but are most dominant from six to nine. The waterbuck cannot tolerate dehydration in hot weather, and thus inhabits areas close to sources of water.
Predominantly a grazer, the waterbuck is mostly found on grassland. In equatorial regions, breeding takes place throughout the year, but births are at their peak in the rainy season. The gestational period lasts 7–8 months, followed by the birth of a single calf.
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Waterbucks inhabit scrub and savanna areas along rivers, lakes, and valleys. Due to their requirement for grasslands and water, waterbucks have a sparse ecotone distribution. The IUCN lists the waterbuck as being of least concern. More specifically, the common waterbuck is listed as of least concern, while the defassa waterbuck is near threatened.
The population trend for both is downwards, especially that of the defassa, with large populations being eliminated from certain habitats because of poaching and human disturbance.
Thursday, 25 November 2021
3-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - RED BILLED SPURFOWL (Pternistis adspersus)
The red-billed spurfowl (Pternistis adspersus), also known as the red-billed francolin, is a species of bird in the family Phasianidae. It is found in Southern Africa, including Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in size. Males are larger, measuring 38 cm (15 in) in length and weighing 340–635 g (12.0–22.4 oz), whereas females measure 33 cm (13 in) in length and weigh 340–549 g (12.0–19.4 oz). The species has barred underparts (in contrast to the related Natal spurfowl) and a conspicuous yellow eye-ring.
The red-billed spurfowl was described in 1838 by the English naturalist George Robert Waterhouse from specimens collected by James Edward Alexander on his expedition to Namaqualand and Damaraland. Waterhouse coined the binomial name Francolinus adspersus and noted that the specimens had come near the Fish River in what is now Namibia. The specific epithet adspersus is Latin for "sprinkling". The species is now placed in the genus Pternistis that was introduced by the German naturalist Johann Georg Wagler in 1832. The red-billed spurfowl is considered as monotypic: the proposed subspecies mesicus is not recognised.
3-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - ARNOT'S CHAT (Myrmecocichla arnotti)
Arnot's chat ranges in size from 16 to 18 cm (6.3–7.1 in) and weighs around 35 g (1.2 oz). The plumage of the adults is sexually dimorphic; the male of the nominate race is overall black with a white crown and a white patch on the wing coverts. The female is similar but with a black crown and a white (tipped with black) throat and neck. The bill and legs are black. Juvenile birds are like the adults but with white feather tips on the crown or throat instead of fuller white. The male of the race harterti has less extensive white on the wings and a mostly black head with a small area of white on the forehead and above the eye; the white throat of the female is also less extensive than on the nominate.
Wednesday, 24 November 2021
3-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - ZAMBESI CRESTED BARBET (Trachyphonus vaillantii ssp. nobilis)
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The Zambezi crested barbet is the common crested barbet (Trachyphonus vaillantii), a vibrantly colored sub-Saharan bird known for its loud trilling call and aggressive, territorial behavior.
Appearance: This is a small (23–24 cm), chunky bird with a thick, pale bill and colorful plumage. It has a speckled yellow and red face, a small black crest, a yellow belly with red spots, and black wings with white specks. The male and female plumage is similar.
Habitat and Distribution: It is found in a variety of wooded areas, including forests, savannas, riverine thickets, and even suburban gardens across countries like Zambia, South Africa, Botswana, and Mozambique.
Behavior: Crested barbets are usually seen singly or in pairs and are notably aggressive, chasing away other birds (like doves and thrushes) and have even been known to attack rats and snakes in their territory. They do not fly easily or for long distances, preferring to hop around on the ground to forage.
Diet: Their diet is omnivorous, consisting of insects, fruits, snails, and sometimes the eggs or chicks of other birds. They are considered a friend to gardeners because they consume the local snail population.
3-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - RED EYED DOVE (Streptopelia semitorquata)
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The red-eyed dove (Streptopelia semitorquata ) is a dove that is a widespread and common in Sub-Saharan Africa. It has been listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 2004.
The red-eyed dove is a largish, stocky pigeon, typically 30 cm (12 inches) in length. Its back, wings and tail are pale brown. When flying, it shows blackish flight feathers. The head and underparts are dark vinous-pink, shading to pale grey on the face. There is a black hind neck patch edged with white. The legs and a patch of bare skin around the eye are red. The call is a loud doo-doo-du-du.
Sexes are similar, but juveniles are duller than adults, and have scalloping on the body feathers.
Red-eyed doves eat grass seeds, grains and other vegetation. They often forage on the ground.
3-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - MARTIAL EAGLE (Polemaetus bellicosus)
The Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus), a formidable raptor, reigns over the sub-Saharan skies. This solitary species, the sole member of its genus, is distinguished by its impressive size and power. With feathered tarsi characteristic of the booted eagle subfamily, it is one of the largest of its kind. The Martial Eagle is an apex predator, soaring high to stoop upon a diverse array of prey, from mammals to reptiles.
Adult Martial Eagles exhibit a dark brown plumage on their upperparts, head, and upper chest, with occasional lighter feather edges. Their underparts are white, marked with sparse blackish-brown spots. In flight, their long broad wings and short tail give them a distinctive silhouette. Juveniles are paler with a greyish mottled appearance and take up to seven years to acquire their adult plumage.
The Martial Eagle favors wooded belts within open savanna landscapes, avoiding dense forests and arid deserts. It is often found perched in an upright position in large trees, surveying its territory.
This eagle's range spans across sub-Saharan Africa, with higher densities in southern and parts of east Africa. It is more sporadic in west Africa, with notable populations in protected areas such as South Africa's Kruger National Park.
Martial Eagles spend a significant portion of their day aloft, soaring at great heights. They are solitary outside of the breeding season and exhibit a preference for less disturbed areas, likely due to the abundance of prey and aversion to human activity.
The Martial Eagle is not a frequent vocalizer, but it does emit a low mellow whistle as a contact call and a louder, trilling call during territorial displays.
Breeding occurs at various times across their range, with nests built high in large trees. They lay usually one egg, with the female performing most of the incubation. Fledglings remain dependent on their parents for several months post-fledging.
The Black-chested Snake Eagle may be confused with the Martial Eagle but is significantly smaller with different coloring and flight patterns. Juvenile Martial Eagles may be mistaken for juvenile Crowned Eagles but differ in wing and tail proportions.
Martial Eagles are opportunistic predators, with a diet comprising mammals, birds, and reptiles. They are known for hunting from a high soar, using their keen eyesight to spot prey from several kilometers away.
The Martial Eagle is currently classified as Endangered by the IUCN, with populations declining due to factors such as persecution, habitat destruction, and collisions with power lines. Conservation efforts focus on education and the expansion of protected areas.
3-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - AFRICAN OPENBILL (Anastomus lamelligerus)
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The African Openbill (Anastomus lamelligerus ) is a species of stork from the family Ciconiidae. It is widely distributed in Sub-Saharan Africa and western regions of Madagascar. This species is considered common to locally abundant across its range, although it has a patchy distribution. Some experts consider there to be two sub-species, A. l. lamelligerus distributed on the main continent and A. l. madagascariensis living on the island of Madagascar. Scientists make the difference between the two sub-species due to the more pronounced longitudinal ridges on the bills of adult A. l. madagascariensis.The Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans ) distributed in Asia is the African Openbill’s closest relative. The two species share the same notably large bill of a peculiar shape that gives them their name.
The African Openbill is a stork measuring 80-94 cm and weighing 1-1.3 kg. The species does not exhibit any major sexual dimorphism, although the males are slightly larger than the females and have a longer and heavier bill. The adult bill is betwen 135-196 mm in length, brownish in color and has a gap between the upper aend lower mandible. This gap is non-existent in juvenile birds and develops as the bird ages. It is because the two mandibles of the beak only meet at the tip and not in the middle that this stork genus received the name of “openbill”.
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The adult plumage is overall black with iridescent green feathers on their backs, coverts and abdomens. The juvenile plumage is usually less vibrant and browner in color with the feathers of the underparts having pale tips. The legs and feet are black. The eyes are grey with grey lores and no distinct coloration of the eye-ring.
These storks are smaller in stature than most of the other species in their family which allows them to be much more agile in the air. This agility can be observed during their descents from high altitudes as they often perform steep dives and remarkable acrobatic manoeuvres. During their migration flights, the African openbill storks will use sustained flapping flight with an average wing flap rate of 200-210 flaps/minute. They will also often soar on the thermals when commuting to and from distant feeding areas. This allows them to travel long distances to obtain food without expending too much energy. In flight, these birds have their necks and head extended and their long, broad wings are spread out and perfect for soaring and gliding on the air currents.
3-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - WHITE FACED WHISTLING DUCK (Dendrocygna viduata)
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The white-faced whistling duck (Dendrocygna viduata) is a whistling duck that breeds in sub-Saharan Africa and much of South America.
This species is gregarious, and at favoured sites, the flocks of a thousand or more birds arriving at dawn are an impressive sight. As the name implies, these are noisy birds with a clear three-note whistling call.
The white-faced whistling duck was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1766 in the twelfth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Anas viduata. He specified the type locality as Cartagena in Colombia. The white-faced whistling duck is now one of eight species placed in the genus Dendrocygna that was introduced in 1837 by the English naturalist William Swainson. The species is considered as monotypic: no subspecies are recognised. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek dendron meaning "tree" with the genus name Cygnus Bechstein, 1803, meaning "swan" in Latin. The specific epithet viduata is Latin meaning "widowed" or "in mourning".
3-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - HELMETED GUINEA FOWL (Numida meleagris)
This is a gregarious species, forming flocks outside the breeding season typically of about 25 birds that also roost communally. Guineafowl are particularly well-suited to consuming massive quantities of ticks, which might otherwise spread Lyme disease. These birds are terrestrial, and prone to run rather than fly when alarmed. Like most gallinaceous birds, they have a short-lived, explosive flight and rely on gliding to cover extended distances. Helmeted guineafowl can walk 10 km and more in a day. Their bodies are well-suited for running and they are remarkably successful in maintaining dynamic stability over rough terrain at speed. They make loud harsh calls when disturbed.
Their diet consists of a variety of animal and plant foods. During the nonbreeding season, N. meleagris consumes corns, tubers, and seeds, particularly of agricultural weeds, as well as various agricultural crop spillage. During the breeding season, more than 80% of their diet may be invertebrates, particularly arthropods such as beetles. Guineafowl are equipped with strong claws and scratch in loose soil for food much like domestic chickens, although they seldom uproot growing plants in so doing. As with all of the Numididae, they have no spurs. They may live for up to 12 years in the wild.
Males often show aggression towards each other, and partake in aggressive fighting, which may leave other males bloodied and otherwise injured. They attempt to make themselves look more fearsome by raising their wings upwards from their sides and bristling their feathers across the length of their bodies, and they may also rush towards their opponent with a gaping beak. The nest is a well-hidden, generally unlined scrape, and a clutch is normally some 6 to 12 eggs, which the female incubates for 26 to 28 days. Nests containing larger numbers of eggs are generally believed to be the result of more than one hen using the nest; eggs are large, and an incubating bird could not realistically cover significantly more than a normal clutch.
Tuesday, 23 November 2021
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