Cape Robin-Chat - Cossypha caffra - Brown/Greyish above, White eyebrow, rump and tail orange with black centre. Breast orange with belly grey. Legs black, eye dark. A common resident.
The beautiful Cape Robin-Chat can be seen on the following Aves Tours / Safaris: -
Aves Eastern Cape Tour / Safari.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Tour / Safari.
Aves Western Cape Tour / Safari.
Aves West Coast Tour / Safari.
Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis - White with pinkish buff plumes on head. Bill yellow to orange and legs yellowish. A very common resident. This bird can be seen on the following Aves Tours / Safaris: -
Aves Arid Tour / Safari.
Aves Eastern Cape Tour / Safari.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Tour / Safari.
Aves Western Cape Tour / Safari.
Aves West Coast Tour / Safari.
Fork-tailed Drongo – Dicrurus adsimilis – A longish tail with deep fork, deep ruby eye and a powerful bill. A common resident. Can be seen on all Aves South African Tours / Safaris.
Aves Arid Tour / Safari.
Aves Eastern Cape Tour / Safari.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Tour / Safari.
Aves Western Cape Tour / Safari.
Aves West Coast Tour / Safari.
Photographed by P. Sievers
Greater Double-collared Sunbird – Cynnyris afer – Endemic - Longer, heavier and less curved bill than Southern Double-collared Sunbird. Broad red chest-band. This beautiful bird can be seen on the following Aves Tours / Safaris : -
Aves Eastern Cape Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Tour / Safari.
Aves Western Cape Tour / Safari.
Photographed by P. Sievers
Chinspot Batis – Batis molitor- Male lacks any rufous coloration. Female has rich rufous chin-spot and breast-band. A locally common resident. This tame batis can be seen on the following Aves Tours / Safaris : -
Aves Eastern Cape Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Tour / Safari.
Photographed by P. Sievers
Southern Ground Hornbill – Boucorvus leadbeateri – Large bird with black plumage, white wingtips, bare red face and throat – pouch. Female has a blue central patch on pouch. A fairly common resident. This striking bird can be seen on the following Aves Tours / Safaris : -
Aves Eastern Cape Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Tour / Safari.
Photographed by P. Sievers
Yellow-billed Kite – Milvus migrans parasitus – Yellow bill and ceres, brown head, dark brown eyes and deeply forked tail. A common to very common summer visitor and resident. This Kite can be seen on the following Aves Tours / Safaris : -
Aves Arid Tour / Safari.
Aves Eastern Cape Tour / Safari.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Tour / Safari.
Aves Western Cape Tour / Safari.
Aves West Coast Tour / Safari.
Photographed by P. Sievers
Southern Boubou – Laniarius ferrugineus – Endemic – Cinnamon belly, white breast and neck. White wing-bar. A common resident. . This striking bird can be seen on the following Aves Tours / Safaris : -
Aves Eastern Cape Tour / Safari.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Tour / Safari.
Aves Western Cape Tour / Safari.
Aves West Coast Tour / Safari.
Photographed by P. Sievers
Amethyst Sunbird – Chalcomitra amethystine – A black sunbird with glossy green forehead and glossy purple/ violet throat. A common resident. This beautiful bird can be seen on the following Aves Tours / Safaris: -
Aves Eastern Cape Tour / Safari.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Tour / Safari.
Aves Western Cape Tour / Safari.
Photographed by P. Sievers
Cape Weaver – Ploceus capensis – Endemic – Pale eye, long pointed black bill, yellow underparts. Breeding males have orange/brownish wash on face and neck. A common resident. This striking bird can be seen on the following Aves Tours / Safaris: -
Aves Eastern Cape Tour / Safari.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Tour / Safari.
Aves Western Cape Tour / Safari.
Aves West Coast Tour / Safari.
Photographed by P. Sievers
Grey Crowned Crane - Balearica regulorum - A large bird with long neck and legs. Spiky orange/white crest, white cheeks, and red wattles. These beautiful birds can be seen on the following Aves Birding Tours / Safaris: -
Aves Eastern Cape Tour / Safari.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Tour / Safari.
Acacia Pied Barbet – Tricholaema leucomelas – Near Endemic – White underparts, red forehead, black crown, black band through the eye and a black bib. A common resident. This striking barbet can be seen on the following Aves Tours / Safaris : -
Aves Arid Tour / Safari.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Tour / Safari.
Aves Western Cape Tour / Safari.
Aves West Coast Tour / Safari.
Photographed by P. Sievers
Green Wood-Hoopoe – Phoeniculus purpureus – Iridescent plumage, greenish in good light, red bill, red feet and white wing bars. A common resident. This striking and loud Wood-Hoopoe can be seen on the following Aves Birding Tours / Safaris : -
Aves Arid Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves Eastern Cape Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Birding Tour / Safari.
Photographed by P. Sievers
Southern Masked Weaver – Ploceus velatus – Breeding male has red eye, pointed bib and yellow crown with black forehead. A very common resident. This striking male weaver in breeding plumage can be seen on the following Aves Tours / Safaris : -
Aves Arid Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves Eastern Cape Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves Western Cape Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves West Coast Birding Tour / Safari.
Photographed by P. Sievers
Grey Heron – Ardea cinerea – White crown and neck, black band above and behind the eye and a pale yellow bill and legs. A common resident. These striking large herons can be seen on the following Aves Birding Tours / Safaris : -
Aves Arid Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves Eastern Cape Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves Western Cape Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves West Coast Birding Tour / Safari.
Brown-hooded Kingfisher – Halcyon albiventris – Red bill with black tip, streaked brown head, streaked buffy flanks and breast. A common resident. This kingfisher can be seen on the following Aves Birding Tours / Safaris : -
Aves Eastern Cape Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves Western Cape Birding Tour / Safari.
Pied Kingfisher – Ceryle rudis – Black and white large kingfisher, long black bill, males have two black chest bands. A common resident. This black and white kingfisher can be seen on the following Aves Birding Tours / Safaris : -
Aves Eastern Cape Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves Western Cape Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves West Coast Birding Tour / Safari.
Red-throated Wryneck – Jynx ruficollis – Rufous throat and breast, speckled upperparts with dark line running down the centre of the crown onto the back. A common localized resident. This striking bird can be seen on the following Aves Birding Tours / Safaris : -
Aves Eastern Cape Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Birding Tour / Safari.
Pin-tailed Whydah – Vidua macroura – Breeding male black and white plumage, bright red bill, black legs and long pin shaped tail feathers. A common resident. This striking whydah can be seen on the following Aves Birding Tours / Safaris : -
Aves Eastern Cape Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves Western Cape Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves West Coast Birding Tour / Safari.
Streaky-headed Seedeater - Crithagra gularis - Streaked Crown, Pale Eyebrow, grey/brown cheeks and plain underparts. A common resident.
This seedeater can be seen on the following Aves Birding Tours / Safaris : -
Aves Eastern Cape Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves Western Cape Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves West Coast Birding Tour / Safari.
Caspian Tern – Hydroprogne caspia- Largest tern in Southern Africa with a massive red bill. Black cap in breeding plumage and streaked white non breeding. Rump, tail underparts and underwing white, upperparts grey. A common resident. This very large tern can be seen on the following Aves Tours / Safaris : -
Aves Eastern Cape Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Tour / Safari.
Aves Western Cape Tour / Safari.
Aves West Coast Tour / Safari.
Southern Double-collared Sunbird – Cinnyris chalybes – Endemic – Breeding males have a green head, back, throat and upper chest. Narrow red breast-band and pale greyish belly. Females are brownish grey.A common resident. This beautiful sunbird can be seen on the following Aves Birding Tours / Safaris : -
Aves Eastern Cape Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves Western Cape Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves West Coast Birding Tour / Safari.
Grey Plover – Pluvialis squatarola – A medium sized plover. A dark patch behind the eye. Upperparts mottled brownish grey and white. Breeding plumage the underparts and face are black. A common summer visitor, some overwinter. This robust plover can be seen on the following Aves Birding Tours / Safaris / Adventures: -
Aves Eastern Cape Birding Tour / Safari / Adventures.
Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari / Adventures.
Aves Western Cape Birding Tour / Safari / Adventures.
Aves West Coast Birding Tour / Safari / Adventures.
Malachite Kingfisher – Alcedo cristata – A small aquatic kingfisher with blue upperparts, orange-brown underparts, white throats and red legs. Adults have red bills, immature’s have black bills. A common resident. This strikingly beautiful kingfisher can be seen on the following Aves Birding Tours / Safaris / Adventures: -
Aves Eastern Cape Birding Tour / Safari / Adventures.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari / Adventures.
Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari / Adventures.
Aves North East Birding Tour / Safari / Adventures.
Aves North West Birding Tour / Safari / Adventures.
Aves Western Cape Birding Tour / Safari / Adventures.
Aves West Coast Birding Tour / Safari / Adventures.
The Hadeda Ibis - Bostrychia hagedash, is found in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is found throughout open grassland, savanna and wetlands as well as urban parks, school fields, green corridors and large gardens.
Description
It is a large dark brown Ibis with a white "moustache", glossy greenish purple wings, a large black bill with a red stripe on the upper mandible, and grey/blackish legs.
Call
It has a distinctively loud and recognisable haa-haa-haa-de-dah call that is often heard when the birds are flying or are startled, hence the name.
Food
It feeds mainly on earthworms, using its long bill to probe soft soil. It also eats larger insects, spiders, snails and small lizards.
Conservation status – Least Concern
Widespread and common throughout its large range and is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Birdwatching
This striking Ibis can be seen on the following Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures: -
Aves Arid Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves Eastern Cape Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves Western Cape Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves West Coast Birding Tour / Safari.
The African Fish Eagle - Haliaeetus vocifer- is a large species of eagle that is found throughout sub-Saharan Africa. They are found wherever large bodies of open water occur that have an abundant food supply. The African Fish Eagle is usually seen in pairs and they evenly share the kills. It is the national bird of Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Description
The African Fish Eagle is a large bird, and the female is larger than the male. The adult is very distinctive in appearance with a mostly brown body and large, powerful, black wings. The head, breast, and tail of African Fish Eagles are snow white, with the exception of the featherless face, which is yellow. The eyes are dark brown in colour. The hook-shaped beak, ideal for a carnivorous lifestyle, is yellow with a black tip. The plumage of the juvenile is brown and the eyes are paler compared to the adult. The feet have rough soles and are equipped with powerful talons in order to enable the eagle to grasp slippery aquatic prey.
Call
Its distinctive cry has become synonymous with the sound of Africa. It has two distinct calls - in flight or perched, the sound is something like the American Bald Eagle. When near the nest, its call is more of a 'quock' sound - the female is a little shriller and less mellow than the male. The call is a weee-ah, hyo-hyo or a heee-ah, heeah-heeah.
Food
The African Fish Eagle feeds mainly on fish. It is an opportunistic feeder and may take a wider variety of prey such as water-birds, reptiles and carrion. They may also raid colonies of nesting waterbirds for young and eggs.
Breeding
Breeding season for African Fish Eagles is during the dry season when water levels are low. African Fish Eagles are believed to mate for life. Pairs will often maintain two or more nests, which they will frequently re-use.
The female lays 1 to 3 eggs, which are primarily white with a few reddish speckles. Incubation is mostly done by the female, but the male will incubate when the female leaves to hunt. Incubation lasts for 42 to 45 days before the chicks hatch. The eggs will often hatch a few days apart, and the eldest chick will usually kill any younger chicks. Fledging lasts for 70 to 75 days and after about 8 weeks the chick is capable of feeding itself and will usually begin to venture outside of the nest 2 weeks later.
Conservation Status – Least Concern
The estimated population size is about 300,000 individuals
Bird watching
Widespread in Southern Africa, its habitat is usually limited to larger rivers, lakes, pans and dams, with enough large trees for it to perch on. These eagles are also found near coastal lagoons and estuaries. It is most frequently seen sitting high in a tall tree from where it has a good view of the stretch of river, lakeshore or coastline, which is its territory.
To see these magnificent birds of prey book on one of these Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures: -
Aves Eastern Cape Birding Tour / Safari /Adventure.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves North East Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves North West Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves Western Cape Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves West Coast Birding Tour / Safari /Adventure.
Giant Kingfisher.
The Giant Kingfisher - Megaceryle maxima - is the largest Kingfisher in the world. It is found across much of sub-Saharan Africa and is fairly common in South Africa.
Description
The Giant Kingfisher has a long, large black bill, large crest and finely spotted white and black upperparts. The male has a chestnut breast band and otherwise white underparts with dark flank barring, and the female has a white-spotted black breast band and chestnut belly.
Call
The call is a loud wak wak wak.
Food
They feed mainly crabs, with fish and frogs making up the rest of the diet. Prey is caught in the typical kingfisher way by a dive from a perch.
Breeding
The breeding season is normally between July to January. The nest is excavated by both sexes, into a vertical sandbank close to the waterline. It consists of a long tunnel, ending in a chamber. The female lays 3 to 5 eggs, which are incubated for 25 to 27 days by both sexes. The chicks are fed mainly by the male every one to four hours and stay dependent on the parents for between 56 to 60 days.
Conservation Status – Least Concern
This species has an extremely large range and is fairly common in protected areas. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to pesticide run-off from adjacent farmland. It is shot as a pest at some trout hatcheries.
Birdwatching
Ask Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures to create a tour for you or book on one of the following Aves Birding Tour/Safaris/Adventures scheduled tours to see these large kingfishers: -
Aves Eastern Cape Birding Tour / Safari /Adventure.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves North East Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves North West Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves Western Cape Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves West Coast Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.
