DOCSLIB.ORG

Ancient Host Specificity Within a Single Species of Brood Parasitic Bird

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Ancient Host Specificity Within a Single Species of Brood Parasitic Bird Ancient host specificity within a single species of brood parasitic bird Claire N. Spottiswoodea,b,1, Katherine Faust Stryjewskic, Suhel Quadera,2, John F. R. Colebrook-Robjentd,3, and Michael D. Sorensonc aDepartment of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom; bPercy FitzPatrick Institute, Department of Science and Technology/ National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; cDepartment of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215; and dMusumanene Farm, Choma, Zambia Edited by John C. Avise, University of California, Irvine, CA, and approved August 30, 2011 (received for review June 14, 2011) Parasites that exploit multiple hosts often experience diversifying spite interbreeding among males and females reared by different selection for host-specific adaptations. This can result in multiple hosts. In both cuckoos and cowbirds, however, females with strains of host specialists coexisting within a single parasitic identical or closely related mtDNA haplotypes were associated species. A long-standing conundrum is how such sympatric host with different hosts, indicating frequent host shifts over evolu- races can be maintained within a single parasitic species in the face tionary time (13, 14). Parentage analyses based on both micro- of interbreeding among conspecifics specializing on different satellite loci (12, 17) and radio telemetry (18) indicate that hosts. Striking examples are seen in certain avian brood parasites female common cuckoos occasionally lay eggs in the nest of such as cuckoos, many of which show host-specific differentiation more than one host species. A recent study showing slight but in traits such as host egg mimicry. Exploiting a Zambian egg col- significant genetic structure among male common cuckoos as- lection amassed over several decades and supplemented by recent sociated with different hosts (17) suggests an alternative model fieldwork, we show that the brood parasitic Greater Honeyguide in which egg mimicry evolves through strong selection on auto- Indicator indicator exhibits host-specific differentiation in both egg somal genes in partially isolated local populations. Thus, the size and egg shape. Genetic analysis of honeyguide eggs and chicks stability and evolutionary longevity of cuckoo gentes and their show that two highly divergent mitochondrial DNA lineages are adaptation to specific hosts remains uncertain. associated with ground- and tree-nesting hosts, respectively, indi- Clearer patterns of genetic diversification in relation to host cating perfect fidelity to two mutually exclusive sets of host species use are perhaps most likely in tropical species, which may ex- for millions of years. Despite their age and apparent adaptive perience relatively greater climatic stability (19–21) and hence diversification, however, these ancient lineages are not cryptic longer periods of host–parasite coevolution (22); the vast ma- species; a complete lack of differentiation in nuclear genes shows jority of avian brood parasites are tropical in distribution (23). In that mating between individuals reared by different hosts is suffi- this study, we investigate both phenotypic and genotypic di- ciently frequent to prevent speciation. These results indicate that versification in relation to host use in the Greater Honeyguide host specificity is maternally inherited, that host-specific adapta- Indicator indicator. This Afrotropical species is perhaps best tion among conspecifics can be maintained without reproductive known for its remarkable mutualistic interactions with human isolation, and that host specificity can be remarkably ancient in honey gatherers (24), but is also an obligate brood parasite that evolutionary terms. exploits a range of host species at any given geographical loca- tion (25). Parasitized hosts suffer high fitness costs because the coevolution | gentes | phylogeography | W chromosome hypothesis young honeyguide stabs host young to death as soon as they hatch, using needle-sharp hooks at the tips of its bill (25, 26). pecies interactions can be powerful generators of evolution- Greater honeyguides parasitize hole-nesting host species that Sary diversity (1, 2). In host–parasite relationships, different produce eggs of varying color, size, and shape. Host species are hosts can exert divergent selection for parasitic specialization. drawn primarily from the Coraciiformes and Upupiformes, some Although this sometimes results in speciation in the parasitic of which have eggs that differ in coloration from the invariably lineage (3–5), in other cases multiple strains of host specialists white eggs of honeyguides (Fig. 1). Color differences, however, coexist within a single parasitic species. A textbook example is are likely to be imperceptible in the darkness of deep tree holes – seen in avian brood parasites such as cuckoos, in which the and terrestrial burrows. A more important aspect of host para- individuals of a single parasitic species specialize on different site matching may be tactile cues provided by egg size and shape (27–29), which we might thus predict to show host-specific spe- hosts and show phenotypic differentiation in traits such as host fi egg mimicry (6, 7). How phenotypically distinct host races [also cialization. In this study, we rst test for evidence of phenotypic differentiation in egg size and shape among honeyguides para- known as “gentes” in the context of avian brood parasitism (8)] sitizing different hosts. We then test for evidence of genetic can evolve and be maintained over evolutionary time in the face differentiation in relation to host use, with particular interest of interbreeding among conspecifics has long remained para- in comparing patterns of differentiation in maternally inherited doxical (9–12). Genetic data have provided important insights by allowing a test of whether lineages of parasitic females consistently spe- Author contributions: C.N.S. and M.D.S. designed research; C.N.S., K.F.S., J.F.R.C.-R., and cialize on particular host species. Studies of the common cuckoo M.D.S. performed research; C.N.S., K.F.S., S.Q., and M.D.S. analyzed data; and C.N.S., S.Q., Cuculus canorus (13) and the shiny cowbird Molothrus bonar- and M.D.S. wrote the paper. iensis (14), both of which show host-specific phenotypic differ- The authors declare no conflict of interest. entiation in egg traits (7, 15), have revealed subtle genetic This article is a PNAS Direct Submission. differentiation in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotype fre- 1To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: [email protected]. quencies in relation to host use. These results are potentially 2Present address: National Centre for Biological Sciences, GKVK Campus, Bellary Road, consistent with the long-standing hypothesis that egg mimicry Bangalore 560065, India. might be controlled by genes on the maternally inherited W 3Deceased November 17, 2008. ’ chromosome [Punnett s sex chromosome hypothesis (10, 16)], This article contains supporting information online at www.pnas.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10. thereby allowing host-specific adaptation of female lineages de- 1073/pnas.1109630108/-/DCSupplemental. 17738–17742 | PNAS | October 25, 2011 | vol. 108 | no. 43 www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1109630108 Downloaded by guest on September 25, 2021 Fig. 2. Size (A) and shape (B) of Greater Honeyguide eggs in relation to those of host eggs in the same nest. Data points are individual parasitized Fig. 1. Host and Greater Honeyguide eggs from representative parasitized clutches from the Choma District of Zambia, with different host species in- clutches for each host species in Zambia. Host eggs are in the left column and dicated (A, Inset). The regression lines (solid lines) result from generalized parasite eggs are in the right column. Subtle host-specific differentiation in estimating equations that take into account nonindependence of parasit- honeyguide egg size and shape (Fig. 2) is visible even to the human eye: note ized clutches within host species. The dotted lines show the expectation if EVOLUTION the small honeyguide egg from a little bee-eater nest and the rounder egg there were perfect correspondence between parasite and host egg traits, ’ from a striped kingfisher nest. Clutches were selected from near the middle emphasizing that honeyguides do not perfectly match their hosts eggs. of the honeyguide egg size and shape distributions. (Photos courtesy of Note that the axes are displayed on a log scale so the untransformed units M. D. Anderson, B. Danckwerts, and W. R. Tarboton.) are displayed. mtDNA vs. biparentally inherited nuclear DNA. Fidelity of Do Greater Honeyguides Show mtDNA Genetic Divergence in Relation female lineages to particular hosts combined with assortative to Host Use? To test for genetic divergence among honeyguide females parasitizing different host species, we sequenced mating of males and females raised by the same host species Methods would be reflected in both genomes and could lead to speciation. mtDNA ( ) from samples of known host origin: shell In contrast, if host-specific female lineages mate randomly with membranes from honeyguide eggs in parasitized clutches and respect to the host species of males, we would expect to find blood or tissue from parasitic nestlings (Table S2). We found that two highly divergent mtDNA lineages (genetic distance = host-related genetic structure in mtDNA only. 14.8% for the ND2 gene) were perfectly associated with two A Results groups of host species (Fig. 3 ): those
Load more

Recommended publications
  • WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ACT 2010 2 Laws of Malaysia ACT 716
    Wildlife Conservation 1 LAWS OF MALAYSIA Act 716 WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ACT 2010 2 Laws of Malaysia ACT 716 Date of Royal Assent ... ... 21 October 2010 Date of publication in the Gazette ... ... ... 4 November 2010 Publisher’s Copyright C PERCETAKAN NASIONAL MALAYSIA BERHAD All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording and/or otherwise without the prior permission of Percetakan Nasional Malaysia Berhad (Appointed Printer to the Government of Malaysia). Wildlife Conservation 3 LAWS OF MALAYSIA Act 716 WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ACT 2010 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS PART I PRELIMINARY Section 1. Short title and commencement 2. Application 3. Interpretation PART II APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS, ETC. 4. Appointment of officers, etc. 5. Delegation of powers 6. Power of Minister to give directions 7. Power of the Director General to issue orders 8. Carrying and use of arms PART III LICENSING PROVISIONS Chapter 1 Requirement for licence, etc. 9. Requirement for licence 10. Requirement for permit 11. Requirement for special permit 4 Laws of Malaysia ACT 716 Chapter 2 Application for licence, etc. Section 12. Application for licence, etc. 13. Additional information or document 14. Grant of licence, etc. 15. Power to impose additional conditions and to vary or revoke conditions 16. Validity of licence, etc. 17. Carrying or displaying licence, etc. 18. Change of particulars 19. Loss of licence, etc. 20. Replacement of licence, etc. 21. Assignment of licence, etc. 22. Return of licence, etc., upon expiry 23. Suspension or revocation of licence, etc.
    [Show full text]
  • Brood Parasitism in a Host Generalist, the Shiny Cowbird: I
    BROOD PARASITISM IN A HOST GENERALIST, THE SHINY COWBIRD: I. THE QUALITY OF DIFFERENT SPECIES AS HOSTS PAUL MASON 1 Departmentof Zoology,University of Texas,Austin, Texas 78712 USA ASSTRACT.--TheShiny Cowbird (Molothrusbonariensis) of South America, Panama, and the West Indies is an obligate brood parasiteknown to have used 176 speciesof birds as hosts. This study documentswide variability in the quality of real and potential hostsin terms of responseto eggs, nestling diet, and nest survivorship. The eggs of the parasiteare either spotted or immaculate in eastern Argentina and neighboring parts of Uruguay and Brazil. Most speciesaccept both morphs of cowbird eggs,two reject both morphs, and one (Chalk- browed Mockingbird, Mimus saturninus)rejects immaculate eggs but acceptsspotted ones. No species,via its rejection behavior, protectsthe Shiny Cowbird from competition with a potentialcompetitor, the sympatricScreaming Cowbird (M. rufoaxillaris).Cross-fostering ex- periments and natural-history observationsindicate that nestling cowbirds require a diet composedof animal protein. Becausemost passerinesprovide their nestlingswith suchfood, host selectionis little restricted by diet. Species-specificnest survivorship, adjustedto ap- propriatevalues of Shiny Cowbird life-history variables,varied by over an order of mag- nitude. Shiny Cowbirds peck host eggs.This density-dependentsource of mortality lowers the survivorshipof nestsof preferred hostsand createsnatural selectionfor greater gener- alization. Host quality is sensitive to the natural-history attributes of each host speciesand to the behavior of cowbirds at nests.Received 4 June1984, accepted26 June1985. VARIATIONin resourcequality can have great parasitized176 species(Friedmann et al. 1977). ecologicaland evolutionary consequences.Ob- The Shiny Cowbird is sympatric with a poten- ligate brood parasites never build nests but tial competitor, the ScreamingCowbird (M.
    [Show full text]
  • Bird Checklists of the World Country Or Region: Ghana
    Avibase Page 1of 24 Col Location Date Start time Duration Distance Avibase - Bird Checklists of the World 1 Country or region: Ghana 2 Number of species: 773 3 Number of endemics: 0 4 Number of breeding endemics: 0 5 Number of globally threatened species: 26 6 Number of extinct species: 0 7 Number of introduced species: 1 8 Date last reviewed: 2019-11-10 9 10 Recommended citation: Lepage, D. 2021. Checklist of the birds of Ghana. Avibase, the world bird database. Retrieved from .https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/checklist.jsp?lang=EN&region=gh [26/09/2021]. Make your observations count! Submit your data to ebird.
    [Show full text]
  • Rejection Behavior by Common Cuckoo Hosts Towards Artificial Brood Parasite Eggs
    REJECTION BEHAVIOR BY COMMON CUCKOO HOSTS TOWARDS ARTIFICIAL BROOD PARASITE EGGS ARNE MOKSNES, EIVIN ROSKAFT, AND ANDERS T. BRAA Departmentof Zoology,University of Trondheim,N-7055 Dragvoll,Norway ABSTRACT.--Westudied the rejectionbehavior shown by differentNorwegian cuckoo hosts towardsartificial CommonCuckoo (Cuculus canorus) eggs. The hostswith the largestbills were graspejectors, those with medium-sizedbills were mostlypuncture ejectors, while those with the smallestbills generally desertedtheir nestswhen parasitizedexperimentally with an artificial egg. There were a few exceptionsto this general rule. Becausethe Common Cuckooand Brown-headedCowbird (Molothrus ater) lay eggsthat aresimilar in shape,volume, and eggshellthickness, and they parasitizenests of similarly sizedhost species,we support the punctureresistance hypothesis proposed to explain the adaptivevalue (or evolution)of strengthin cowbirdeggs. The primary assumptionand predictionof this hypothesisare that somehosts have bills too small to graspparasitic eggs and thereforemust puncture-eject them,and that smallerhosts do notadopt ejection behavior because of the heavycost involved in puncture-ejectingthe thick-shelledparasitic egg. We comparedour resultswith thosefor North AmericanBrown-headed Cowbird hosts and we found a significantlyhigher propor- tion of rejectersamong CommonCuckoo hosts with graspindices (i.e. bill length x bill breadth)of <200 mm2. Cuckoo hosts ejected parasitic eggs rather than acceptthem as cowbird hostsdid. Amongthe CommonCuckoo hosts, the costof acceptinga parasiticegg probably alwaysexceeds that of rejectionbecause cuckoo nestlings typically eject all hosteggs or nestlingsshortly after they hatch.Received 25 February1990, accepted 23 October1990. THEEGGS of many brood parasiteshave thick- nestseither by grasping the eggs or by punc- er shells than the eggs of other bird speciesof turing the eggs before removal. Rohwer and similar size (Lack 1968,Spaw and Rohwer 1987).
    [Show full text]
  • 2017 Namibia, Botswana & Victoria Falls Species List
    Eagle-Eye Tours Namibia, Okavango and Victoria Falls November 2017 Bird List Status: NT = Near-threatened, VU = Vulnerable, EN = Endangered, CR = Critically Endangered Common Name Scientific Name Trip STRUTHIONIFORMES Ostriches Struthionidae Common Ostrich Struthio camelus 1 ANSERIFORMES Ducks, Geese and Swans Anatidae White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata 1 Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis 1 Knob-billed Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos 1 Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca 1 African Pygmy Goose Nettapus auritus 1 Hottentot Teal Spatula hottentota 1 Cape Teal Anas capensis 1 Red-billed Teal Anas erythrorhyncha 1 GALLIFORMES Guineafowl Numididae Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris 1 Pheasants and allies Phasianidae Crested Francolin Dendroperdix sephaena 1 Hartlaub's Spurfowl Pternistis hartlaubi H Red-billed Spurfowl Pternistis adspersus 1 Red-necked Spurfowl Pternistis afer 1 Swainson's Spurfowl Pternistis swainsonii 1 Natal Spurfowl Pternistis natalensis 1 PODICIPEDIFORMES Grebes Podicipedidae Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 1 Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis 1 PHOENICOPTERIFORMES Flamingos Phoenicopteridae Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus 1 Lesser Flamingo - NT Phoeniconaias minor 1 CICONIIFORMES Storks Ciconiidae Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis 1 Eagle-Eye Tours African Openbill Anastomus lamelligerus 1 Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus 1 Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumenifer 1 PELECANIFORMES Ibises, Spoonbills Threskiornithidae African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus 1 Hadada Ibis Bostrychia
    [Show full text]
  • Bees and Wasps of the East Sussex South Downs
    A SURVEY OF THE BEES AND WASPS OF FIFTEEN CHALK GRASSLAND AND CHALK HEATH SITES WITHIN THE EAST SUSSEX SOUTH DOWNS Steven Falk, 2011 A SURVEY OF THE BEES AND WASPS OF FIFTEEN CHALK GRASSLAND AND CHALK HEATH SITES WITHIN THE EAST SUSSEX SOUTH DOWNS Steven Falk, 2011 Abstract For six years between 2003 and 2008, over 100 site visits were made to fifteen chalk grassland and chalk heath sites within the South Downs of Vice-county 14 (East Sussex). This produced a list of 227 bee and wasp species and revealed the comparative frequency of different species, the comparative richness of different sites and provided a basic insight into how many of the species interact with the South Downs at a site and landscape level. The study revealed that, in addition to the character of the semi-natural grasslands present, the bee and wasp fauna is also influenced by the more intensively-managed agricultural landscapes of the Downs, with many species taking advantage of blossoming hedge shrubs, flowery fallow fields, flowery arable field margins, flowering crops such as Rape, plus plants such as buttercups, thistles and dandelions within relatively improved pasture. Some very rare species were encountered, notably the bee Halictus eurygnathus Blüthgen which had not been seen in Britain since 1946. This was eventually recorded at seven sites and was associated with an abundance of Greater Knapweed. The very rare bees Anthophora retusa (Linnaeus) and Andrena niveata Friese were also observed foraging on several dates during their flight periods, providing a better insight into their ecology and conservation requirements.
    [Show full text]
  • Bird List for Tabin Wildlife Resort
    BIRD LIST FOR TABIN WILDLIFE RESORT Updated 1st May 2013 By CK Leong 01. Chestnut-necklaced Partridge 02. Black Partridge 03. Crested Fireback 04. Great Argus 05. Wandering Whistling Duck 06. Storm’s Stork 07. Eastern Cattle Egret 08. Great Egret 09. Little Egret 10. Great-billed Heron 11. Purple Heron 12. Oriental Darter 13. White-fronted Falconet 14. Peregrine Falconet 15. Jerdon’s Baza 16. Bat Hawk 17. Black-shouldered Kite 18. Brahminy Kite 19. White-bellied Sea-eagle 20. Lesser Fish-eagle 21. Crested Serpent-eagle 22. Crested Goshawk 23. Black Eagle 24. Wallace’s Hawk-eagle 25. Blyth’s Hawk-eagle 26. Changeable Hawk-eagle 27. Rufous-bellied Eagle 28. Common Moorhen 29. White-breasted Waterhen 30. Common Sandpiper 31. Emerald Dove 32. Jambu Fruit-dove 33. Little Green-pigeon 34. Pink-necked Green-pigeon 35. Thick-billed Green-pigeon 36. Large Green-pigeon 37. Green Imperial-pigeon 38. Grey Imperial-pigeon 39. Blue-crowned Hanging-parrot 40. Long-tailed Parakeet 41. Moustached Hawk-cuckoo 42. Malaysian Hawk-cuckoo 43. Indian Cuckoo 44. Banded Bay Cuckoo 45. Plaintive Cuckoo 46. Violet Cuckoo 47. Little Bronze Cuckoo 48. Drongo Cuckoo 49. Bornean Ground-Cuckoo 50. Black-bellied Malkoha 51. Red-billed Malkoha 52. Raffle’s Malkoha 53. Chestnut-breasted Malkoha 54. Greated Coucal 55. Lesser Coucal 56. Sunda Scops-Owl 57. Barred Eagle-owl 58. Buffy Fish-owl 59. Brown Wood-owl 60. Bornean Frogmouth 61. Blyth’s Frogmouth 62. Glossy Swiftlet 63. Mossy-nest Swiftlet 64. Black-nest Swiflet 65. Edible-nest Swiftlet 66. Asian Palm-swift 67.
    [Show full text]
  • Leptosomiformes ~ Trogoniformes ~ Bucerotiformes ~ Piciformes
    Birds of the World part 6 Afroaves The core landbirds originating in Africa TELLURAVES: AFROAVES – core landbirds originating in Africa (8 orders) • ORDER ACCIPITRIFORMES – hawks and allies (4 families, 265 species) – Family Cathartidae – New World vultures (7 species) – Family Sagittariidae – secretarybird (1 species) – Family Pandionidae – ospreys (2 species) – Family Accipitridae – kites, hawks, and eagles (255 species) • ORDER STRIGIFORMES – owls (2 families, 241 species) – Family Tytonidae – barn owls (19 species) – Family Strigidae – owls (222 species) • ORDER COLIIFORMES (1 family, 6 species) – Family Coliidae – mousebirds (6 species) • ORDER LEPTOSOMIFORMES (1 family, 1 species) – Family Leptosomidae – cuckoo-roller (1 species) • ORDER TROGONIFORMES (1 family, 43 species) – Family Trogonidae – trogons (43 species) • ORDER BUCEROTIFORMES – hornbills and hoopoes (4 families, 74 species) – Family Upupidae – hoopoes (4 species) – Family Phoeniculidae – wood hoopoes (9 species) – Family Bucorvidae – ground hornbills (2 species) – Family Bucerotidae – hornbills (59 species) • ORDER PICIFORMES – woodpeckers and allies (9 families, 443 species) – Family Galbulidae – jacamars (18 species) – Family Bucconidae – puffbirds (37 species) – Family Capitonidae – New World barbets (15 species) – Family Semnornithidae – toucan barbets (2 species) – Family Ramphastidae – toucans (46 species) – Family Megalaimidae – Asian barbets (32 species) – Family Lybiidae – African barbets (42 species) – Family Indicatoridae – honeyguides (17 species) – Family
    [Show full text]
  • The Honeyguide
    THE HONEYGUIDE (Children’s Story/Parable) Gary B. Swanson Associate Director General Conference Sabbath School and Personal Ministries “‘I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life’” (John 5:24 NIV). In northern Kenya a nomadic tribe of people, the Borans, have learned to communicate in a crude way with a species of birds, known as honeyguides. These birds first draw the attention of humans by swooping close to them, hopping restlessly from branch to branch nearby, and making a persistent call. When the humans approach, the bird disappears over the treetops, but reappears after about 20 minutes to call again and wait for them to proceed further. The Borans follow the birds, all the while whistling, banging sticks together, or talking loudly. This pattern is repeated till the bird and the human reach a beehive in an average of about three hours. Then the Borans enjoy the honey—a staple in their diet—and the honeyguides feast on bee larvae and wax from the honeycombs. Although accounts of this relationship between human and bird have been reported since the 1700s, biologists have only recently documented it. Researchers have found that if they leave the hive to which a bird has led them without breaking into it, the bird will guide them back again and again. This, in a way, is what Bible study does for a Christian. It repeatedly returns the reader to the real source of life, Jesus Christ.
    [Show full text]
  • Namibia & the Okavango
    Southern White-faced Owl gave wonderful views. What a special owl! (JM) NAMIBIA & THE OKAVANGO 23 SEPTEMBER – 8 OCTOBER 2019 LEADERS: STEVE BRAINE and JULIEN MAZENAUER The 2019 Birdquest tour to Namibia & The Okavango continued on a long run of successful trips, despite the extreme drought Southern Africa is experiencing at the moment, resulting in the lack of many usually common migrants like Cuckoos and Warblers. Anyway, we managed to get good views at all the endemics and possible near-endemics of the area. We manage to record 379 species, a good tally given the severe drought. The first day at Windhoek produced many of our first near-endemics like Bradfield’s Swift, Short- toed Rock Thrushes, Violet-eared Waxbills, Rosy-faced Lovebirds, South African Shelducks and many more. Moving on the Spreetshoogte, we gained great views of the sought-after Herero Chat, followed by Layard’s Warbler and Verreaux’s Eagle. The Namib specials were on the show, with repeated sightings of Rüppell’s Korhaans, Gray’s and Stark’s Larks, Red-headed Finches. Dune Lark showed exceptionally well near Rostock Ritz, and our stay at Walvis Bay was highlighted by thousands of waders including 1500 Chestnut- banded Plovers, hundreds of White-fronted Plovers, 15 Damara Terns, a surprising African Penguin and a 1 BirdQuest Tour Report : Namibia & The Okavango 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com Northern Giant Petrel as write-in. Huab Lodge delighted us with its Rockrunners, Hartlaub’s Spurfowl, White- tailed Shrike, and amazing sighting of Southern White-faced Owl, African Scops Owl, Freckled Nightjar few feet away and our first White-tailed Shrikes and Violet Wood Hoopoes.
    [Show full text]
  • Notes on Honeyguides in Southeast Cape Province, South Africa
    52 SK•AD,Honeyguides ofSoutheast CapeProvince t[AukJan. NOTES ON HONEYGUIDES IN SOUTHEAST CAPE PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA BY C. J. SKEAD Now that I am no longer living on a farm it seemsadvisable to collate what little data I have accumulatedon honeyguidesand add it to the scanty knowledgewe have of these birds, in this instance the LesserHoneyguide, Indicator minor minor, the Greater Honeyguide, Indicator indicator, and Wahlberg's Sharp-billed Honeyguide, Pro- dotiscusregulus regulus. The farm "Gameston" where these records were taken lies in the grass-and bush-coveredupper reachesof the Kariega River, 15 miles southwestof Grahamstown, Albany district, Southeast Cape Province, South Africa. This veld-type, known as "bontebosveld," spreads over a large part of the southeastcape. Although I have known the birds for many years the written recordscover a period of about five years. (1) THE LESSERHONEYGUIDE F.colog3.--This speciesprefers the scrub bushyeld and more open acaciaveld, sitting amongthe inner branchesof the trees and bushes but makingconspicuous flights in the openfrom one patch of bushto another. Status.--I have recordedthem in January, February, March, July, August,September, and December. This suggeststhey are resident and not migratory. They are very restlessbirds being seldomseen for more than an hour or so and, in my experience,usually one at a time, even when they parasitized a nest of Black-collared Barbers, Lybius torquatus,in our garden. But from July to September, 1949, two often consortedtogether, attracted, I think, by combs of honey protrudingfrom the gardenbee-hives. There were no barbetsin the garden then. Field Characters.--Thereare no striking features; their dull colora- tion is lightly offset by the golden sheen seen on the back when the light is good.
    [Show full text]
  • Species Recorded KENYA (Main & Kakamega)
    SPECIES SEEN in KENYA (Mai(Main + Kakamega)) 2002005-2018-2018 Kenya Main = the safari includes Mt. Kenya, SambSamburu NR, Nakuru NP, Lake BaringBaringo, Lake ke NaNaivasha,sha, MaMaasaii Mara NR Main +L Feb 2017 - included Laikipia PlateaPlateau instead of Maasai Mara X* = as shown on Kenya Main + Kakamega, meanmeans that it was only seen in KakameKakamega & KisuKisumu (Weste(Western Kenya) on that at trip Kenya Nairobi & Nav. Aug 2015 - 2 daysys prepre-trip Nairobi NP, Lake Naivashavasha & Kiambet mbethu Farmrm Kenya Nak. & Mara Aug 2015 - 7 daysys NakuNakuru NP, MaasaI Mara NR & LimuLimuru Marsh Kenya Kenya Kenya Kenya Kenya Kenya Kenya Kenya Kenya Kenya Kenya Kenya MaMain + Kak* Main +L Main + Kak* Nak & Mara Nairobi & Nav Main Main Main + Kak* Main + Kak* Main + Kak* Main + Kak* Main + Kak* Aug Feb Aug-Sept Aug Aug Aug Oct-Nov Sept-Oct Aug Aug-Sept Aug-Sept Aug-Sept BIRDS 2018 2017 2015 2015 2015 2013 2009 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 Ostrich : Struthionidae ENDEMIC Common Ostrich Struthio camelus X X X X X X X X X X X X Somali Ostrich Struthio molybdophanes X X X X X X X X X X Grebes : Podicipedidae Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis X X X X X X X X X X X X Black-necked (Eared) Grebe Podiceps nigricollis X X X X Cormorants & Darters: Phalacrocoracidae Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo X X X X X X X X X X X X Reed (Long-tailed) Cormorant Phalacrocorax africanus X X X X X X X X X X X X African Darter Anhinga rufa X X X X X X X X X X Pelicans: Pelecanidae Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus X X X X X X X X X X X X Pink-backed Pelican
    [Show full text]