Blue-Spotted Wood-dove - Turtur afer - Brown above, irridescent blue wingspots, pinkish grey below, bill is red with yellow tip.An uncommon resident. These beautiful birds can be seen on the: -
Aves North East Tour / Safari.
Comb Duck – Sakidiornis melonotos – Black speckled head and neck, fleshy knob on bill, metallic dark blue upperparts with white underparts. A uncommon to locally common resident. This striking duck can be seen on the following Aves Tours / Safaris : -
Aves Highlands / Tembe Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Tour / Safari.
Photographed by P. Sievers
Magpie Shrike – Corvinella melanoleuca – A long-tailed black bird with a white V on the lower back. White rump and wing patches. A common resident. The Magpie Shrike can be seen on the following Aves Tours / Safaris.
Aves North East Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Tour / Safari.
Photographed by P. Sievers
Lilac-breasted Roller - Coracias caudatus - A strking roller with crown and nape turquoise, lilac breast and throat, brown back, blue belly, blue vent, tail and long tail shafts. A common resident. This beautiful roller can be seen on the following Aves Birding Tours / Safaris : -
Aves Arid Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Birding Tour / Safari.
Photographed by P. Sievers
Pearl-spotted Owlet – Glaucidium penlatum – A very small owl, without ear tufts, upper-parts brown with small white spots, under-parts white with brown streaks and pearl like spots. Has two false “eye-spots” on nape. A common resident. This beautiful small owl can be seen on the following Aves Tours / Safaris: -
Aves Arid Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Tour / Safari.
Photographed by P. Sievers
Bennett’s Woodpecker – Campethera bennetti – Spotted underparts, male has a plain white throat with red malar streak and red crown. Female has brown throat patch with forecrown black with white speckles. An uncommon to common resident. These beautiful birds can be seen on the following Aves Tours / Safaris : -
Aves North East Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Tour / Safari.
Photographed by P. Sievers
Brown-hooded Kingfisher – Halcyon albiventris – Streaked Brown head, red bill, streaked buffy breast and flanks, female has brown wings and shoulders. A common resident. This kingfisher 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
Purple-crested Turaco – Gallirex porphyreolophus – Dark blue crest with a purple sheen. Bill and legs black, no white around the eye. A common resident. This beautiful bird can be seen on the following Aves Tours / Safaris : -
Aves Highlands / Tembe Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Tour / Safari.
Photographed by P. Sievers
Red-billed Oxpecker – Buphagus erythrorhynchus – Red bill and eye, yellow eye-ring, brown above, pale below. A common resident. This striking bird can be seen on the following Aves Tours / Safaris : -
Aves KZN Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Tour / Safari.
Photographed by P. Sievers
African Harrier Hawk – Polyboroides typus – A medium sized grey hawk. Black flight feathers, black tail with a broad white band. A bare yellow face, red when aroused and long yellow legs. A locally common resident. This beautiful hawk 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
Greater Blue-eared Starling – Lamprotornis chalybaeus – A glossy starling with blackish ear patch, blue belly and flanks, row of black spots on wing coverts. A common resident. This striking bird can be seen on the following Aves Tours / Safaris : -
Aves North East Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Tour / Safari.
Photographed by P. Sievers
Scarlet-chested Sunbird [Juvenile] – Chalcomitra senegalensis – Male mainly black plumage with large red breast patch. A common resident. This beautiful sunbird can be seen on the following Aves Tours / Safaris : -
Aves Highlands / Tembe 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
African Openbill - Anastomus lamelligerus - A smallish stork which appearing all black, with glossy wings and a tawny bill. A gap in the bill. A uncommon to locally common resident and visitor. This striking bird can be seen on the following Aves Tours / Safaris : -
Aves KZN Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Tour / Safari.
Black Heron - Egretta ardesiaca - Grey/black plumage, dark eyes, dark legs with bright yellow feet. A uncommon to locally 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.
Saddle-billed Stork - Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis - A large striking beautiful stork, pied plumage, black and red bill with yellow saddle, male has small yellow wattles and dark eyes. Females lack wattles and have a yellow iris. An uncommon resident.
Aves KZN Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Tour / Safari.
Violet-backed Starling – Cinnyricinclus leucogaster – Males have a glossy violet plumage and white chest and belly. Yellow eye. A common summer visitor. This striking starling can be seen on the following Aves Tours / Safaris : -
Aves Highlands / Tembe Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Tour / Safari.
Photographed by P. Sievers
Burchell’s Starling – Lamprotornis australis – Near Endemic – Bulky appearance, dark eyes and dark ear-patch. The largest glossy starling. A common resident. This starling can be seen on the following Aves Birding Tours / Safaris : -
Aves Arid Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Birding Tour / Safari.
Photographed by P. Sievers
Karoo Thrush – Turdus smithi – Endemic – Common Garden Bird in Gauteng. Plain orange/yellow bill, orange eye-ring, lower belly orange and vent greyish. A common resident. This thrush can be seen on the following Aves Birding Tours / Safaris : -
Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Birding Tour / Safari.
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 Hamerkop - Scopus umbretta - is the sole member of its family and
is so different that it is one of the really iconic species of Africa south of the Sahara. In terms of taxonomic uniqueness the Hamerkop is equal in rank to the Shoebill! The shape of its head with a black, long, flat, and slightly hooked bill, a crest at the back of the head is reminiscent of a hammer. Its plumage is a drab brown with purple iridescence on the back. Its tail is short and its wings are big, wide, and round-tipped.
The Hamerkop occurs in Africa south of the Sahara, Madagascar and coastal southwest Arabia in wetland habitats, including irrigated land, as well as in savannas and forests. Most Hamerkop remain sedentary in their territories.
Vocalizations include cackles and a shrill call given in flight. Hamerkops are mostly silent except when in groups.
Hamerkop feed during the day and normally feed alone. They feed mainly on amphibians such as Platanna frogs and other frogs. Other food consists of small fish, shrimp, rodents and insects. Hamerkop use a variety of foraging techniques, such as wading through the water and stabbing/grabbing prey, still-hunting at the water's edge or pouncing on prey from the air.
The Hamerkop's behavior is unlike any other bird. One unusual feature is that up to ten birds join in "ceremonies" in which they run circles around each other, all calling loudly, raising their crests, fluttering their wings. Another is "false mounting", in which one bird stands on top of another and appears to mount it, but they may not be mates and do not copulate.
There are many legends about the Hamerkop. It is known in some cultures as the lightening bird, and the Bushman believe that being hit by lightning resulted from trying to rob a Hamerkop's nest. They also believe that the inimical god Khauna would not like anyone to kill a Hamerkop. According to an old Malagasy belief, anyone who destroys its nest will get Leprosy and a Malagasy poem calls it an "evil bird". Such beliefs have given the bird some protection.
The strangest aspect of Hamerkop behavior is the huge nest it builds. When possible, they build the nest in the fork of a tree, often over water. A pair starts by making a platform of sticks held together with mud, then builds walls and a domed roof. A mud-plastered entrance 13 to 18 cm wide in the bottom leads through a tunnel up to 60 cm long to a nesting chamber big enough for the parents and young. The nest is usually built by both sexes, with construction taking anything from 40-43 days to several months. Other animals often usurp the nest of the Hamerkop, such as bees, reptiles and other birds, including Owls and Egyptian Geese.
These birds are compulsive nest builders, constructing 3 to 5 nests per year whether they are breeding or not. At the finished nest, a pair gives displays similar to those of the group ceremonies and mates, often on top of the nest.
The breeding season is almost year-round, peaking from July to January in South Africa. The clutch consists of 3 to 7 white eggs and are incubated for between 26 and 30 days by both sexes. Both parents feed the young, often leaving them alone for long periods. The young hatch covered with gray down. By 17 days after hatching, their head and crest plumage is developed, and in a month, their body plumage. They leave the nest at 44 to 50 days but roost in it at night until about two months after hatching.
The status of the Hamerkop has changed dramatically in the past two decades, and is now a species of real conservation concern.
These Iconic birds can be seen on the following Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures: -
Aves Arid Birding Tour / Safari /Adventure.
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.
The Red-winged Starling - Onychognathus morio - is endemic to eastern Africa, from Ethiopia to the Western Cape, South Africa. This species has a wide habitat tolerance. It generally prefers rocky outcrops and gorges in highland grasslands, occasionally visiting forests for fruit.It is now common in many urban areas, due to the similarity between the structure of tall buildings and houses as nest sites with the cliffs of its original habitat. It also nests in residential areas.
Description
The male has a mainly iridescent black plumage, with chestnut flight feathers, which are particularly noticeable in flight. The female has an ash-grey head and upper breast. The juvenile resembles the male, but is less glossy than the adults, and has brown rather than dark red eyes.
Call
This species has a number of whistled calls, but the most familiar is the contact call, cher-leeeoo.
Food
Red-winged Starling is an omnivore, taking a wide range of seeds, berries, nectar from plants and invertebrates. Fruit species that this species may feed on include figs, date palm fruit, berries from species such as wild olive and commercial fruit. In rural areas, Red-winged Starlings are often spotted perching on livestock and game and may take insects and ticks, much like Oxpeckers. It may take nestlings and adults of certain bird species and will also scavenge on carrion and human food scraps.
Breeding
They are territorial, aggressive and intolerant when nesting, and will attack other species, including domestic animals and humans. It is monogamous with pairs staying together for several years, possibly for life. When not breeding, Red-winged Starlings are highly gregarious and will associate with other members of their species in large flocks. This starling is a cliff nester, breeding on rocky cliffs, outcrops and gorges. It builds a lined nest of grass and twigs, and with a mud base, on a natural or structural ledge. The Egg-laying season is from September-March. It lays 2 to 5, usually three, blue eggs, spotted with red-brown. The female incubates the eggs for between 13 to 14 days to hatching. They fledge in another 22 to 28 days. It may be parasitized by the Great Spotted Cuckoo.
Conservation Status – Least Concern
They are not endangered and it can be a pest in some areas, raiding orchards and attacking people that wander too close to their nests.
Birdwatching
This striking Starling can be seen on the following 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.
The Common Waxbill - Estrilda astrild - is native to sub Saharan Africa. It has been introduced to many parts of the world. Common Waxbills inhabit open country with long grass and rank vegetation. They are often found near water in marshes and among reeds... They can become tame and will enter gardens, parks and farmland.
Description
It is a small bird, with a slender body, short rounded wings and a long graduated tail. The bright red bill of the adult gives the bird its name. The plumage is mostly grey-brown, finely barred with dark brown. There is a red stripe through the eye and the cheeks and throat are whitish. There is often a pinkish flush to the underparts and a reddish stripe along the centre of the belly. The rump is brown and the tail and vent are dark/black. Black undertail coverts, with black legs and feet. Females are similar to the males but are paler with less red on the belly. Juveniles are duller with little or no red on the belly, fainter dark barring and a black bill.
Call
The Common Waxbill has a variety of twittering and buzzing calls and a distinctive high-pitched flight-call. Only the cock sings. Two low, harsh notes followed by a "throaty bubbling" note with a rising inflection.
Food
The diet consists mainly of grass seeds but insects are also eaten on occasions, especially during the breeding season when more protein is needed. These waxbills typically forage in flocks. They usually feed by clinging to the stems with their long, spindly claws and picking from the flower heads but they will also search for fallen seeds on the ground. They need to drink regularly as the seeds contain little water.
Breeding
The nest is a large ball of criss-crossed grass stems with a long downward-pointing entrance tube on one side. The nest is built the male, consisting of a horizontal pear-shaped structure with a tubular entrance tunnel, made of stems and inflorescences of green grass, while the egg chamber is lined by the female with fine grass and feathers. Additionally a partially enclosed cup may be built on top of the main structure, possibly to confuse predators. It is typically placed on the ground, with the entrance overlooking a small patch of bare soil, although it may also be concealed in thick vegetation about 1-3 metres above ground. The egg-laying season is year round, peaking from September-October in the Western Cape. Four to seven white eggs are laid. They are incubated for 11 to 13 days and the young birds fledge 17 to 21 days after hatching. Both parents take part in incubating the eggs and feeding the chicks.
Conservation Status – Least Concern
Not threatened. This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion. The species is widespread and common.
Bird watching
These beautiful little birds can be seen on the following Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures: -
Aves Arid Birding Tour/Safari/Adventure.
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.
The African Jacana - Actophilornis Africana – are conspicuous and unmistakable birds and are found in sub-Saharan Africa. In Southern Africa it is locally abundant in northern Botswana, the Caprivi Strip, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and eastern South Africa, while more scarce elsewhere in Namibia and South Africa.
Description
Females are larger than the males. They have chestnut upperparts with black wingtips, rear neck and eye stripe. The underparts are white, with a chestnut belly patch in adult birds. The blue bill extends up as a Coot-like head shield and the legs and very long toes are grey.
Call
Jacanas are quite vocal, the call being a screeching “kooworr” as well as a variety of other sounds.
Food
It mainly eats insects, doing most of its foraging on floating vegetation, walking or running with its large feet while plucking prey from plants and the water surface.
Breeding
Sequentially polyandrous, meaning that one female mates with multiple males over the course of one breeding season. It is highly territorial, as males fight each other for control of prime breeding territory, displaying and calling from a calling post made by pulling a few plant stems together. Egg-laying season is year-round, peaking from November-March. The female lays four black-marked brown eggs in a floating nest. The male alone cares for the chicks. The male African Jacana has the ability to pick up and carry his chicks underneath his wings as well, a remarkable adaptation for parental care.
Conservation status – Least Concern
Not threatened, as its distribution has remained largely unchanged for the past century.
Bird watching
These striking birds can be seen on the following Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures: -
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.
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.
Striped Pipit
The Striped Pipit - Anthus lineiventris is found in patches from southern Kenya through Tanzania, Zambia, southern DRC and Malawi to southern Africa. Here it is uncommon to fairly common in northern Mozambique, Zimbabwe, south-eastern Botswana, eastern South Africa and Swaziland. Its natural habitat is dry savanna. It generally prefers woodland on the steep slopes of mountains, hills and gorges.
Description
The striped pipit is a large pipit with bold markings and a long buffy supercilium. It can be distinguished by yellow-edged wing-feathers, well streaked underparts and speckled face. The legs are pink, bill and eyes brown.
Call
It has a loud , whistling, thrush like song.
Food
Food consists of insects and other invertebrates, including ticks.
Breeding
The breeding season is from September to January. The nest is a cup, placed on level ground against a rock or dead grass tuft. The clutch consists normally of 2 to 3 white eggs, heavily speckled with brown and grey.
Conservation Status – Least Concern
This species has an extremely large range and the global population size has not been quantified, but the species is reported to be uncommon. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.
Birdwatching
Ask Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures to create an Aves custom tour for you or book on one of the following scheduled 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.
African Crowned Eagle
The African Crowned Eagle - Stephanoaetus coronatus - is a very large, powerful, crested bird of prey which is found in Africa south of the Sahara. In South Africa it is found in the Eastern parts, where there is suitable habitat. It inhabits dense forests, heavily wooded hillsides, dense woodland and rocky outcrops throughout its range. Owing to lack of suitable habitat, the eagle's range is discontinuous. They are non-migratory and largely sedentary.
Description
It has dark grey upperparts with rufous and white below; its belly and breast are heavily mottled with black. This eagle has relatively short, broad and rounded wings for added maneuverability in its environment. The rufous underwing coverts and strongly barred white and black outer wings and tail are all diagnostic in flight. The large crest and this bird's large size make the adult near-unmistakable at close range. The legs are extremely powerful and the eagle possesses formidably large, strong talons, used for killing and dismembering prey. The female is larger than the male.
Call
Pairs are fairly vocal in their territory – the call – “cheeep chereep chereep”.
Food
Its diet is mostly mammalian, with primates being the most commonly taken prey. It will also take hyraxes, duikers and other small antelope, but will hunt guineafowl and domestic livestock when mammalian food sources are scarce. Pairs sometimes hunt cooperatively, using a clever technique whereby one bird flies above the canopy overhead of a monkey troop, eliciting alarm calls from them which exposes their position. The eagle's mate then follows a short while later, killing from behind any monkey unfortunate enough to be caught out in the open. It usually strikes the skull or diaphragm of prey with its talons in a downward motion, a movement powerful enough to kill instantly.
Breeding
The pair collaborate in building a massive nest in a fork of a large forest tree. A nest built from scratch may take several months to construct, however existing nests are often repaired and re-used during successive breeding seasons.
Crowned Eagle pairs breed once every two years. A single breeding cycle is approximately 500 days.
Breeding season / egg laying is from July to May and normally 2 eggs are laid which are usually incubated by the female for between 49 to 51 days. The chick is fed by both adults and remains reliant on the parents for about 11 months.
Conservation Status – Least Concern
The Crowned Eagle is fairly common in suitable habitat, though its numbers show decline in sync with deforestation. It is far more common in protected areas and reserves than elsewhere in its range, though is still recorded consistently outside of these areas. They are Near-threatened in South Africa, largely due to persecution by small stock farmers and destruction of forest habitats.
Birdwatching
Ask Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures to create an Aves custom tour for you or book on one of the following scheduled 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.
Black-chested Snake-Eagle
The Black-chested Snake-Eagle - Circaetus pectoralis - is an African bird of prey found in Africa from Ethiopia and southern DRC to South Africa. It inhabits different habitats, ranging from semi desert and open grassland to Karoo scrub and closed deciduous woodland.
Description
The main identification character of this bird is its dark brown head and chest, to which it owes its name. In flight the dark head contrasts with the underparts and underwings, which are white apart from dark barring on the flight feathers and tail. The upperparts are dark brown, and the eye is yellow.
The female is similar to, but larger than the male, and the juvenile is rufous.
Call
The call is a whistled kwo kwo kwo kweeoo.
Food
They feed mostly on snakes, but will also prey on lizards, small mammals and frogs.
Breeding
A territorial solitary nester, the nest is built by both sexes, consisting of a saucer-shaped structure of sticks, lined with green leaves and placed in the canopy of a flat-topped Acacia. The egg-laying season in South Africa is from June-August. The female will lay only one egg per clutch, which is incubated for between 50 to 52 days, mainly by the female. The chick is brooded and fed by the female, with food provided by the male. It eventually leaves the nest at between 90 to 113 days and usually fully independent six months later.
Conservation Status – Least Concern
Due to its wide distribution this species is not endangered.
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 see these magnificent eagles: -
Aves Arid 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.
Photographed by Peter Sievers
