Long-crested Eagle - Lophaetus occipitalis - Medium raptor with long floppy crest. Dark brown, with large white windows near wingtips. A common resident. These eagles 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.
African Jacana - Actophilomis africanus - Body rich chestnut,foreneck white,very long toes. A common resident. The African Jacana 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.
Burchell’s Coucal – Centropus burchellii- Near Endemic – Red eye, black head and neck. Pale underparts. Barred rump and upper tail coverts. A common resident. This 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.
Collared Pratincole - Glareola pratincola - Plain brown, throat buff outlined black, belly and rump white. Long winged with forked tail.A locally common summer resident. This bird can be seen on the following Aves Tours / Safaris: -
Aves Highlands / Tembe Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Tour / Safari.
Brown-crowned Tchagra – Tchagra australis – Brown crown with black streak, pale eyebrow and black streak through the eye. Pale grey hind-neck and pale buff below. A common resident. This 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
Orange-breasted Bush-Shrike – Telephonrus sulfureopectus – Yellow forehead and eyebrows, yellow under-parts with orange chest. Common resident. 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 North West Tour / Safari.
Photographed by P. Sievers
Chorister Robin-Chat – Cossypha dichroa – Endemic – A fairly large Robin-Chat, Black/dark hood, orange under-parts. A common resident. 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.
Photographed by P. Sievers
Lemon Dove – Aplopelia larvata – Pale face, red eye, cinnamon under-parts and greenish mantle. A fairly common resident. This beautiful Dove 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
White-throated Robin-Chat – Cossypha humeralis – Endemic – White throat, chest and wing-bars distinguish it from other Robin-Chats. A common bird. 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 Green Pigeon – Treron calvus – Bright green coloration, yellow wings, red legs, yellow leg feathers and red base to the bill. Bill tip white. A common resident. 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 North West Tour / Safari.
Photographed by P. Sievers
Red-backed Shrike – Lanius collurio – Rufous back and wings, grey crown and mantle. White tail base. Pale underparts. A common summer visitor. . This shrike 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.
Photographed by P. Sievers
African Pygmy-Goose - Nettapus auritus - A small goose, white face, yellow bill with black tip, male has a green patch on neck, dark green upperparts and orange/brown body. A locally common resident.
This beautiful bird can be seen on the following Aves Birding Tours / Safaris : -
Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Birding Tour / Safari.
Narina Trogon – Apaloderma narina – Iridescent green upperparts, scarlet underparts, large pale yellow bill, white outer tail feathers. A fairly common resident. This beautiful bird can be seen on the following Aves Birding Tours / Safaris : -
Aves Eastern Cape 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.
Photographed by P. Sievers
Little Bee-eater – Merops pusillus – A small bee-eater, yellow throat, black collar, yellow-brown underparts and a square tail. A common resident. This beautiful small bee-eater can be seen on the following Aves Birding Tours / Safaris : -
Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North West 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.
Little Bee-eater – Merops pusillus – A small bee-eater, yellow throat, black collar, yellow-brown underparts and a square tail. A common resident. This beautiful small bee-eater can be seen on the following Aves Birding Tours / Safaris : -
Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North West Birding Tour / Safari.
Barn Owl – Tyto alba – A medium sized owl, pale/whitish underparts, pale brown patches in upperparts and a white shaped facial disc. A common resident. This slim built owl 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.
Barn Swallows – Hirundo rustica- Chestnut forehead and throat with dark chest band, off-white belly, upperparts metallic blue. An abundant summer visitor. This beautiful swallow 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.
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.
Red-eyed Dove – Streptopelia semitorquata – A large dove, grey on top of head, red eye with a purple-pink eye-ring and deep pink breast. Broad black collar. A common resident. This large dove 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 Red-faced Mousebird - Urocolius indicts - Occurs from southern Angola, Zambia and Malawi to southern Africa, where it is common in non-arid areas. It generally prefers Acacia savanna and thickets, gardens, woodland with nearby rivers, strandveld, gardens and orchards. This is a social bird outside the breeding season, feeding together in small groups, normally of about half a dozen birds, but sometimes up to 15 or more. It engages in mutual preening and roosts in groups at night. It is more wary than other mousebirds
Description
This bird has a long tail comprising approximately half the birds total length. The crested head and breast are pale cinnamon with a red bill and eye mask. The rest of the upperparts and tail are blue-grey apart from a paler grey rump. The belly is whitish. The sexes are similar, but juveniles lack the crest and have a green mask.
Call
The Red-faced Mousebird has a whistled tsee-tee-tee call.
Food
It is a frugivore. Its diet is dominated by fruit, supplemented with nectar, flowers and leaves. It typically forages in groups of 3-10, landing in trees and bushes to forage.
Breeding
These sedentary birds breed between June to February. The nest is a large untidy cup of plant material lined with material such as sheep wool, is built by both sexes. The breeding pair are assisted by helpers. Courtship involves preening and a "bouncing display", in which one bird bounces up and down on its perch, the tempo increasing as its mate gets closer. It is typically placed 2-8 metres above ground, in a tree or shrub. It lays 1 to 7 eggs, which are incubated by both sexes and sometimes helpers, for 10 to 15 days. The chicks are brooded for the first few days of their life, sometimes by both adults at once. They stay in the nest for 14 to 20 days, after which they become fully independent.
Conservation Status – Least concern
The population is not believed to be decreasing.
Birdwatching
The red-faced Mousebird is widespread and common. This striking mousebird 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 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 Red-chested Cuckoo - Cuculus solitarius - is found in Africa south of the Sahara. In Southern Africa it is a common breeding migrant, in the eastern half of southern Africa, and is quite common in protected areas. The preferred habitats for the Red-chested Cuckoo are woodlands but lives in wide range of habitats.
The Red-chested Cuckoo is normally seen by itself rather than in the company of birds of the same species and is highly vocal.
It feeds mostly on invertebrates, particularly hairy caterpillars but also grasshoppers and beetles.
The Red-chested Cuckoo takes on more than a single mate (it is bigamous). It is a brood parasite and the host incubates the egg and cares for the chick. The surrogate family then raise the chicks. The female Red-chested Cuckoo lays between 20 eggs per season in different nests. The egg-laying season is from October-January. It mostly parasitizes Cape Robin-chat, rushing into their nests, and removing the host's eggs before laying one of its own. Once the chick is 2 days old, it evicts the host's eggs and nestlings. It stays in the nest for 17 to 21 days, and is dependent on its host parents for 20 to 25 days more, before becoming fully independent.
Conservation Status – Least Concern
These highly vocal and striking birds can be seen on the following Aves Birding Tours: -
Aves Eastern Cape Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves KZN Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves North East Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves North West Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves Western Cape Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves West Coast Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Photographed at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens by Peter Sievers.
The Great Egret or Great White Egret – Egretta alba – is the largest egret in the Old World. It is the symbol of the National Audubon Society and represents a conservation success story. The Great White Egret is a large white heron and is found across much of the world, from southern Canada southward to Argentina, and in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The species inhabits all kinds of inland and coastal wetlands, river margins, lake shores, marshes, flood-plains etc.
Description
A large all-white Egret with large yellow bill, long black legs and feet. In breeding plumage, delicate ornamental feathers are borne on the back and the bill becomes black. Males and females are identical.
Call
A deep loud croak when disturbed and low croaking cuk cuk cuk at the nest.
Food
Feeds mainly on fish, frogs, mammals, reptiles and insects.
Breeding
Nests in colonies with other herons. The nest is constructed from sticks and other vegetation. It is normally positioned over water. The clutch size is between 2 to 4 pale greenish-blue eggs. Both parents incubate the eggs. The young egrets are aggressive towards one another in the nest, and the stronger siblings often kill their weaker kin.
Conservation Status – Least Concern
Plume hunters in the late 1800s and early 1900s reduced North American populations by more than 95 percent. The populations recovered after the birds were protected by law. No population is considered threatened, but the species is threatened by wetland habitat degradation and loss.
Birdwatching
Ask Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures to create an Aves custom tour for you or book on one of the following Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures: -
Aves Eastern Cape Birding Tour/Safari/Adventure.
Aves Highlands / Temba 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.
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.
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.
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.
