Bird list of Goegap Nature Reserve 1/5/2007

Bird List of Goegap Nature Reserve

Goegap is a 15.000 hectare big Nature Reserve that is located in the middle of Namaqualand, South Africa. This region is famous for its beautiful flowers at springtime, but its fauna is also very interesting. If you are lucky, you may see Springbok, Gemsbok or Jackal straight after you passed the gate of Goegap. But there are also many other animals, which are not that conspicuous at the first time, but it is quite hard not to hear them. I’m talking about birds. On Goegap about 84 species are recorded, another 100 species may occur in this region. The most sought-after birds of Namaqualand are: Ludwig’s Bustard, Black- headed Canary, Fairy Flycatcher, Barlow’s Lark, Cape Long-billed Lark, Karoo Lark, Cape Eagle Owl, Dusky Sunbird, Southern Grey Tit, Layard´s Titbabbler, Cinnamon-breast Warbler. To see all of these and much more species you need much time and be patient, have to go out early in the morning or late in the afternoon – best at sunrise – and go to different landscapes/habitats. Additionally, birding is best in spring and winter. Notice that breeding males and immatures may look different to nonbreeding males and adults.

This is a list of birds I saw on Goegap Nature Reserve from 16.August to 10.Oktober 2003. I do not name immatures as breeding time just started and they are quite difficult to identify.

Index to English names

Bee-eater, European 11 Mousebird, Whitebacked 10 Barbet, Pied 11 Ostrich 4 Bokmakierie 20 Owl, Eagle, Spotted 8 Bulbul, Cape 13 Pigeon, Rock 8 Bunting, Cape 27 Robin, Karoo 17 Buzzard, Jackal 5 Sandgrouse, Namaqua 7 Canary, Whitethroated 26 Shelduck, South African 3 Chat, Anteating 16 Shrike, Fiscal 19 Chat, Familiar 15 Sparrow, Cape 24 Chat, Karoo 16 Sparrow, House 23 Chat, Mountain 14 Starling, Glossy, Cape 21 Crombec, Longbilled 17 Starling, Palewinged 20 Crow, Pied 13 Sunbird, Doublecollared, Lesser 22 Dove, Turtle, Cape 7 Sunbird, Malachite 21 Eagle, Black 4 Thrush, Olive 14 Flycatcher, Fairy 18 Wagtail, Cape 12 Goshawk, Chanting, Pale 6 Warbler, Rufouseared 18 Heron, Blackheaded 3 Weaver, Cape 25 Kite, Blackshouldered 6 Weaver, Masked 26 Martin, Brownthroated 9 Wheatear, Capped 15 Martin, Rock 9 Woodpecker, Ground 12

- 1 - Bird list of Goegap Nature Reserve 1/5/2007

Topography of bird

Crown Forehead (Front) Ear coverts

Chin Nape Throat Mantle Breast

Back Flank Rump Belly

Rectrices (Tail Feathers)

Upper wing plan

Secondaries Primaries

These plans are only schemata. For more details of the topography please have a look in one of the many bird guides.

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Water birds

Blackheaded Heron Ardea melanocephala Schwarzkopfreiher swartkopreier

Identification: build slender; head black above, white below; neck long, black on hindneck, white on foreneck; in flight underwing white in front, black behind; iris yellow (red in early courtship); bill black above, yellow to greenish below and at base; lores yellow and green; legs and feet black; 97cm Habitat: open grassland, fallow fields, edges of inland waters, forest clearings Behavior: solitary when feeding, either standing and waiting for prey, or stalking slowly; roosts colonially in trees, reedbeds and on islands up to 30km from breeding grounds; flight slow, about 143 wingbeats/minute Food: frogs, fish, crabs, insects, rodents, birds (up to size of Laughing Dove), small reptiles, worms, spiders, scorpions, snails, golden moles Nest: large platform of sticks, lined with finer plant material, hair and wool; in tree, reeds and on cliff ledges; colonial, often in company with other waterbirds Where seen: field side, stayed for a few days

South African Shelduck Tadorna cana Graukopfrostgans kopereend

Identification: bright chestnut (brighter when breeding); head and upper neck all gray in male, gray with white face in female; in flight wings white with black primaries and green trailing edge; breast of nonbreeding male dull buff, becoming bright creamy yellow before breeding; iris dark brown; bill, legs and feet black; 64cm Habitat: most inland waters, dams, coastal lakes, rivers, estuaries; breeds only near freshwater bodies, mostly farm dams Behavior: highly gregarious when not breeding, otherwise in pairs; moulting flocks may number thousands of birds; males flightless for about 32 days, females for 26 days; feeds by dabbling in shallows or on mud flats, or by grazing on grasslands; feeds on dry land mainly around sunrise and sunset; spends much of day loafing on shoreline; courtship by female (not by males as in most ducks), hence white head; males selects mate Food: in winter mainly crop seeds and algae; in summer also insects and crustaceans

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Nest: scrape thickly lined with light gray down; in ground chamber at end of mammal burrow (Aardvark, Springhare, Porcupine) up to 9m from entrance; up to 1,7km from water Where seen: flying over field side in the morning and afternoon, migrants to large bodies of water when not breeding, some birds probably resident

Large terrestrial birds

Ostrich Struthio camelus Strauss volstruis

Identification: male mostly black with white wings and white, buff or rufous tail; female brownish gray; neck and legs very long; neck nearly naked, bristly; iris hazel; bill horn; legs lead gray, front scales red in breeding male; c. 2m Habitat: bushveld to desert Behavior: occurs in flock of 30-40 birds when not breeding; adults and young of 1 month old or more can run at speeds of at least 50-60 km/h, sometimes with wings held out for balance; flightless; male may perform elaborate display in courtship and distraction when breeding Food: adults eat exclusively plant material, mostly soft annual herbs, grass, young shoots, seeds; chicks up to about 2 months old also eat live insects Nest: scrape about 3m diameter in sandy soil; breeding unit: average is 1 male to 3 female in drier years, otherwise more nearly monogamous Where seen: at the Gate of Nature Reserve, common resident

Raptors

Black Eagle Aquila verreauxii Felsenadler witkruisarend

Identification: black except for white lower back and white V on upper back; in flight has characteristic narrow-based wings with white `flashes` at the base of primaries; iris light brown; bill leaden horn; cere, eyelids and feet yellow; legs feathered to toes; 84cm; Immatures: rich rufous on crown and mantle; rest of underparts streaked brown and white; base of tail black; below light brown with black chest and cheeks; fully mature at 5 years

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Habitat: rocky hills, mountains and gorges, especially where Rock Dassie (Hyrax) Procavia cupensis and Yellowspotted Dassie Hetero hyrax brucei plentiful Behavior: usually see gliding swiftly along rock faces, or soaring on thermals, sometimes to great heights; may spend hours perched on crag or shady ledge; almost invariably in pairs, or pair with juvenile; pair occupies homerange of about 9-65 square km depends on region; hunts by surprise attack on prey as it swoops around corners of cliff Food: about 90% dassies; also hares, monkes, small antelopes, squirrels and other mammals, doves and other birds, less often reptiles Nest: huge platform of sticks 1,5-2m diameter, lined with green leaves; on cliff ledge Where seen: hillside, only seen once

Jackal Buzzard Buteo rufofuscus Felsenbussard rooiborsjakkalsvoel

Identification: upperparts, head and throat slate gray (blackish at distance); breast dark rufous to chestnut (very rarely black or white), bordered above by irregular white band; belly black, lightly blotched with white; tail plain rufous; in flight short, wide tail conspicuous, and wing blackish with broad white band; iris dark brown; bill black; cere, legs and feet yellow; 44-53cm Habitat: mostly mountainous and hilly country Behavior: solitary or in pairs; usually seen in flight; characteristically broad- winged, soaring over valleys and mountainsides; perches on rock or telephone poles along roads; often hovers un updraught Food: small mammals, birds, reptiles (including poisonous snakes like Puffadder); also insects, road-kills Nest: bulky pile of sticks, 60-70 diameter, up to 35cm deep, usually on ledge 9- 60m above foot of cliff; also in trees, especially pines Where seen: flying over field side, common resident

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Blackshouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus Gleitaar blouvalk

Identification: above pale gray; below white; black patches on upperwing at wrist; in flight looks whitish with black wingtips gull-like appearance and flight; iris ruby red to orange-red; bill black; cere, legs and feet yellow; 30cm Habitat: varied; mainly grassland and farmland; also woodland, savanna, semi- arid scrub Behavior: usually solitary or in pairs by day; roosts communally at night when not breeding, sometimes in flocks of over 100 birds, from 10-35 minutes after sunset; hunts from perch (tree, telephone pole), or by hovering for periods of five to 20 seconds in flight over open grassland; drops onto prey with legs extended; wags tail exaggeratedly up and down while watching the ground and in threat; frequently hunts at dusk; flight graceful and buoyant; normally silent; Food: rodents (up to 98% of diet: mainly Otomys, Praomysand, Rhabdomys), small birds, reptiles and insects Nest: small platform of sticks, about 30cm diameter, lined with grass; in fork 2-20m above ground, near top of tree (thorntree if available), accessible from above; built by both sexes Where seen: mountains, only seen once, resident but highly nomadic

Pale Chanting Goshawk Melierax canorus Weissbürzel Singhabicht bleeksingvalk

Identification: upperparts, head and breast light gray, paler on wing coverts; rump white (conspicuous in flight); belly finely barred gray and white; legs long; posture upright; in flight white secondaries contrast with black primaries; underwing mainly white, tipped black; iris dark brown; bill black; cere, legs and feet red to orange-red; 53-63cm Habitat: arid savanna, tree-lined watercourses, semidesert Behavior: solitary or in pairs; usually perches on treetop or telephone pole for long periods; flies low from perch to perch; flight with shallow wingbeats alternating with gliding; hunts mainly from perch, but also walks on ground to catch prey, sometimes running after insects or rodents; up to 6 goshawks may follow foraging Slender Mongoose Galerella sanguineaor Food: lizards, insects, small birds and mammals, road kills, snakes Nest: stick platform, about 40cm diameter, in vertical fork of thorntree below canopy, 3-9m above ground; also on telephone poles in treeless areas Where seen: mountains, only seen once

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Sandgrouse and doves

Namaqua Sandgrouse Pterocles namaqua Namaflughuhn kelkiewyn

Identification: tail wedge-shaped, central rectrices long, pointed (diagnostic); male: head, mantle and breast yellowish olive, yellower on throat and forehead; double breastband of white and deep maroon; belly dark brown; wing coverts spotted pearly gray to olive; female: body barred brown and buff; head and breast streaked brown and buff; throat plain yellowish; iris dark brown; eyering yellow; bill light grayish horn; legs and feet pinkish gray or buff; 28cm Habitat: open desert and semi desert, usually stony, with sparse low shrubs and grass tufts; less commonly in arid savanna Behavior: gregarious or in pairs, flocks number 5-10 or several 100 birds; flies up to 60km or more to water in flocks of hundreds or thousands daily, 1-3 hours after sunrise; individuals may drink only every 3-5 days; flocks land several meters away from water, then run down to drink; forages by walking with small steps while pecking at ground, crouches when disturbed; takes off rapidly; flies fast and straight, at 60-70km/h, calling intermittently Food: small hard seeds Nest: shallow scrape, 10-12cm diameter, sparsely lined with small stones, bits of earth or dry plant fragments; on ground, usually near shrub or grass tuft Where seen: hills and flying over field side every morning and afternoon, very common resident, somewhat nomadic

Cape Turtle Dove Streptopelia capicola Kapturteltaube gewone tortelduif

Identification: clear gray, darker on back; black collar on hindneck; in flight shows white outer tail-feathers; has no eye-ring; iris dark brown; bill blackish; legs and feet purpish red; 28cm Habitat: woodland (not forest), savanna, farmland, city parks, riverine bush Behavior: solitary, in pairs or in flocks, sometimes of several hundred birds, especially at waterholes; forages on ground, walking with small steps and bobbing head; rests in tops of trees; drinks mainly in morning; flight swift and direct; vocal throughout day and often at night Food: seeds, insects, fallen grain, bread Nest: flimsy platform of twigs and rootlets in fork of tree or bush; 1-12m above ground; nest may be used several times; males brings nest material, female builds Where seen: around research station and hillsides, not seen very often

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Rock Pigeon Columba guinea Guineataube kransduif

Identification: neck, breast, back and upperwing deep maroon-brown, speckled with white on neck, spotted with white on wings; head, rump and rest of underparts gray; red eyepatch around yellow eye diagnostic; tail gray, tipped broadly black; iris yellow to cream; skin around eye dull red; bill blackish; cere whitish, legs and feet purplish red; 33cm Habitat: mountains, cliffs, groges, koppies, boulder hills, buildings; feeds in open country Behavior: solitary or gregarious, flocks usually of 10-20 birds; may fly up to 20km to feeding grounds; usually roosts on cliff ledges, buildings or in caves; less often in trees; in display flight male flies out from ledge, clapping wings in bursts below body, interspersed with glides on flat wings Food: seeds, green shoots, fallen grain Nest: more or less flimsy platform of sticks, twigs, weeds and grass; on ledge of cliff, cave or building or on ground Where seen: around research station, mostly common to abundant resident, nomadic at times, especially in arid areas

Owls

Spotted Eagle Owl Bubo africanus Fleckenuhu (Berguhu) gevlekte ooruil

Identification: ´ear tufts` conspicuous; above gray, sparingly spotted white; below white, finely barred dark gray, including legs and feet; spotted with brown on breast only; iris yellow; bill blackish; soles of feet yellowish; there also occurs an rufous form with orange-yellow eyes, though less commonly; 43-50cm Habitat: rocky areas, woodland, forest edge, savanna, semi-desert, towns

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Behavior: usually solitary or in pairs; nocturnal; roots by day on ground, on rocky ledge or in tree; sits close; hunts from perch, dropping onto prey; commonly perches on fence posts or telephone pole, passing prey to bill in flight Food: mostly arthropods, also birds, reptiles, mammals, frogs Nest: shallow scrape on ground under rock, on ledge of cliff or buildings, also in hole in tree, old nest of raptor Where seen: on hill at night, only seen once

Aerial feeders, mousebirds and hole nesters

Brownthroated Martin Riparia paludicola Afrikanische Uferschwalbe Afrikaanse oewerswael

Identification: smoky brown except for white belly to undertail; belly brown in about 10% of birds (distinguished from Rock Martin by notched tail); underwing brown; tail slightly forked or notched; iris brown; bill black; legs and feet brownish pink; 13cm Habitat: rivers, streams, lakes, estuaries and reedbeds Behavior: usually gregarious in flocks of a few to 1000 birds (only when not breeding); forages over water and open grassland, usually near water; flight fluttering; often perches on shoreline vegetation (bushes, reeds, grass) Food: aerial insects Nest: pad of grass, hair and feathers in chamber at end of self-excavated burrow, 45-60cm long, in sandbank; excavated in 2-3 weeks; usually over water along river, lake or quarry; colonial, up to 500 burrows together; may use old burrow of other species; breeds in dry season when water levels low and falling Where seen: around research station, only seen once

Rock Martin Hirundo fuligula Felsenschwalbe kransswael

Identification: above grayish brown; below pinkish cinnamon or ochre; tail square, dark brown with white windows; iris brown; bill black; legs and feet pinkish brown Habitat: rocky cliffs, gorges, quarries, buildings; mostly in highveld, but also to sea level Behavior: usually solitary or in pairs; sometimes in loose flocks when not far from cliffs, gorges, and tall buildings; flight looks slow and leisurely with much

- 9 - Bird list of Goegap Nature Reserve 1/5/2007 gliding, but cruises easily at 80km/h; white windows in tail conspicuous when turning in flight; often perches on rock or window ledges Food: aerial arthropods Nest: neat half-cup of mud pellets, lined with grass and feathers; against vertical wall of building, bridge or rock face, close under overhang or roof; usually 2m or more above ground; built by both sexes in up to 40 days Where seen: around research station and mountains, common resident

Whitebacked Mousebird Colius colius Weissrückenmausvogel witkruismuisvoel

Identification: tail long, pointed; lower back white (visible in flight only), bordered black (diagnostic in flight); rump maroon; combination of bright red legs and pale black-tipped bill distinctive; head and upper back gray; below buffy; iris blackish brown; bill buish white, tip black; legs and feet bright red; 30-34cm Habitat: arid to semi-arid scrub, riverine bush, farmyards, gardens, orchards Behavior: gregarious in flocks of 5-20 birds; flies fast and straight with rapid wingbeats alternating with glides; on landing crashes into bush or tree; hangs below perch; forages by clambering mouselike about branches, sometimes forages on ground; roots from just before sunset in branches in bush or tree, departs just after sunrise Food: fruit, seedlings, flowers, leaves, nectar Nest: bowl of dry plant material; 1-7m above ground in bush, tree or hedge Where seen: around research station, only seen once

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European Bee-eater Merops apiaster Bienenfresser Europese byvreter

Identification: above golden- brown, shading to yellow towards wings and rump; forehead whitish; eyebrow green; throat bright yellow, bordered by black collar; rest of underparts blue to blue- green; central rectrices elongate; iris deep red; bill black; legs and feet grayish pink to brown; 25-29cm Habitat: woodland, savanna, scrubby grassland Behavior: gregarious at all times, roots in flocks of up to 150 birds in tall trees; circles high in air; flocks perch on telephone lines or dead trees, flying out to catch prey in air; migrates by day; often vocal in flight Food: insects (bees, wasps, grasshoppers, termites, butterflies) Nest: narrow tunnel up to 2m long, in low earth or sandbank; chamber usually lined with insect remains; colonial Where seen: breeds in southern Europe and migrates mainly to South Africa, others breeds in southern Africa and migrates northward to central Africa

Pied Barbet Tricholaema leucomelas Rotstirnbartvogel bonthoutkapper

Identification: soles forehead bright red; hindcrown, broad stripe through eye and broad bib from throat to belly black; rest of underparts white; back black streaked narrowly with yellow; eyebrow yellow; iris brown; bill blackish horn; legs and feet blackish; 17-18cm Habitat: Acaciasavanna, woodland on Kalahari sand, riverine scrub, arid scrubland, gardens, farmyards, orchards Behavior: usually solitary or in pairs; flight fast and direct, somewhat dipping; vocal most daylight hours; roosts in own nest holes, or in nest of Weaver Food: fruit, nectar, suet (takes fat off bones) Nest: hole excavated in soft or dead wood; 1-3m above ground Where seen: hills, only seen once

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Ground Woodpecker Geocolaptes olivaceus Erdspecht grondspeg

Identification: head gray; back olive, spotted pale yellow on wings; rump bright red (conspicuous in flight); throat white; breast and belly pinkish red, darker in center; tail olive, barred yellow; malar stripe gray, flecked red in male; iris white, sometimes tinged red or yellowish around rim; bill blackish slate; legs and feet greenish gray to black; 26cm Habitat: mountains, rocky hillsides Behavior: usually in pairs or small groups of up to 6 birds; perches on rocks where well camouflaged, may perch on fence post of sturdy bush; flight undulating; forages about 30% of daytime, mainly on ground, pecking, digging and flicking with bill, probes with long sticky tongue into cracks, between, stones or into dead wood; hops on ground and rocks; often jumps onto rock to look around while feeding Food: about 95% ants, including their larvae, pupae and eggs Nest: burrow in vertical wall of riverbank or cutting; also in compact earth on top of large rock or in rock face; tunnel 50-100cm long Where seen: around research station, only seen once

Insect eaters

Cape Wagtail Motallica capensis Kapstelze gewone kwikkie

Identification: above dull olive gray; no black facemask; underparts dull off- white; washed gray on flanks, with slate gray breastband; white eyebrow; edges of wing feathers creamy white; iris brown; bill, legs and feet blackish; 18cm Habitat: small slow-flowing streams, pools, dams, gardens, parks, farm yards Behavior: usually solitary or in pairs; calls frequently while foraging; walks about feeding on the ground; occasionally wagging its tail Food: insects, small crustaceans, fish up to 2cm long Nest: Bulky foundation of grass, stems, weeds and roots with neat cup lined with hair or feathers; in niche of stream bank or wall, on ground under rock, in dense grass tuft Where seen: around research station, not often seen

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Pied Crow Corvus albus Schildrabe witborskraai

Identification: shiny black with white breast and broad white collar on hindneck; bill fairly heavy; iris brown; bill, legs and feet black; 45-52cm Habitat: farmland, savanna, urban areas, rubbish dumps Behavior: usually in pairs or small flocks; sometimes highly gregarious in flocks of up to 300 birds; forages mainly on ground or in litter bins; walks on ground, but hopes when moving fast; largely scavenger; can catch small birds in flight; flies with deep regular wingbeats Food: primarily plant material (seeds, fruit), also arthropods, mollusks, frogs, reptiles, fish, birds, small mammals Nest: large bowl of sticks, twigs, and wire, thickly lined with fur, wool, rags; 3- 30m above ground in stout fork of isolated tall tree, telephone pole or windmill platform; built by both sexes Where seen: field side, very common resident

Cape Bulbul Pycnonotus nigricans Kapbülbül Kaapse tiptol

Identification: upperparts and breast sooty brown, darker on head; head slightly crested; belly shades from brown to white; undertail lemon yellow; iris reddish brown; wattle around eye white; bill, legs and feet black; 19-21cm Habitat: taller fynbos, coastal or riverine scrub, gardens Behavior: usually in pairs; noisy and conspicuous often perching on top of bush Food: fruit and nectar Nest: strongly built shallow cup of roots, twigs and other plant fibres; 1-4m above ground in fork of bush of tree, usually well concealed Where seen: around research station, common resident

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Olive Thrush Turdus olivaceus Kapdrossel olyflyster

Identification: above dark olive gray-brown; throat white, streaked blackish brown; breast olive gray; belly dull yellow, washed olive at sides; iris brown; bill deep yellow, culmen and base dusky; legs and feet ochre yellow; 24cm Habitat: riverine bush, exotic plantations, gardens, parks, orchards Behavior: usually singly or in pair; forages on ground, running, stopping and pecking at ground or leaf litter; starts singing before dawn Food: insects, mollusks, spiders, small lizards, fish, nestling birds, fruit, seeds Nest: large bowl of coarse leaves, twigs, grass and moss; lined with mud and dry grass; usually 2-5m above ground in fork of bush or tree, usually against trunk Where seen: around research station, only seen once

Mountain Chat Oenanthe monticola Bergschmätzer bergwagter

Identification: male: black or gray; wrist patch, rump and outer rectrices white (all conspicuous in flight); black males may have gray or white crown and nape, and white belly (about 1 out of 4,5 black males); female: sooty black or blackish brown, rump and outer rectrices white, tipped black; iris brown; bill, legs and feet black; 17- 20cm Habitat: rocky outcrops, hills, usually with grass, scrubs and bushes; garden, farmyards Behavior: usually solitary or in pairs; sometimes in small groups of 3-4 birds; flies restlessly from rock to rock, showing conspicuous white patches; also perches on termite mounds or in trees; forages

- 14 - Bird list of Goegap Nature Reserve 1/5/2007 on ground or by darting into air to catch flying prey; often sings on moonlit nights, also early and late in day Food: insects, spiders Nest: rather untidy foundation with cup-shaped cavity on top; under rock on ground, in hole in rock, wall or building; built by female only Where seen: field side and mountains, common resident

Capped Wheatear Oenanthe pileata Erdschmätzer hoeveldskaapwagter

Identification: crown and face black; forehead and broad eyebrow white; black brown; rump white; below white with broad black breastband, passing around sides of neck to join black face and nape; tail white on basal half, black on terminal half, graduated to all-black central rectrices; iris brown; bill, leg and feet black; 18cm Habitat: open semidesert, burnt grassland, cultivated fields, stockyards Behavior: usually solitary; perches in upright posture on stone / bush; moving in long hops and flying back to perch, on landing sings tail up and down Food: insects Nest: cup-shaped pad of grass and roots, lined with finer material, from 0,3-1m down rodent burrow in open ground Where seen: field side, very common resident

Familiar Chat Cercomela familiaris Rostschwanzschmätzer gewone spekvreter

Identification: smoky brownish gray, paler below; ear coverts tinged rufous (no good field character); rump and tail dull orange-rufous; center and tip of tail blackish brown (forming dark T); iris brown; bill, legs and feet black; 15cm Habitat: variable; rocky outcrops, mountains, farmyards in arid regions

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Behavior: solitary or in pairs; tame; perches on almost any raised object; flies to ground to catch prey, flicking wings on landing; hops on ground, flicking wings at every stop; returns to perch, flicks wings Food: insects, fruit Nest: neat cup of hair, wool, feathers, or soft plant material; in hole in ground, rock face, building, old burrow of bee-eater, hole in tree, on bulky foundation of clods of earth, small stones Where seen: mountains, not seen very often

Karoo Chat Cercomela schlegelii Wüstenschmätzer Karoospekvreter

Identification: above gray, including rump, below gray; tail mainly solid black triangle, meet rump in center, with white feathers at base on either side, conspicuous in flight; iris brown; bill, legs and feet black; 15-18cm Habitat: Karoo, scrubby and bushy plateaus and stony hillsides Behavior: solitary or in pairs; perches on top of bush, shrub, rock or telephone wire; on landing flutters wings; forages on ground or by dropping to ground form perch; when disturbed flies low from bush to bush; flight wavy Food: insects, seeds Nest: cup of dry grass and plant down on foundation of sticks and twigs; on ground under rock or bush Where seen: hillsides, common resident

Anteating Chat Myrmecocichla formicivora Termitenschmätzer swartpiek

Identification: round-bodied and long-legged; sooty blackish brown all over (looks black at distance); in flight white primaries are visible, fluttering rapidly below level of body; male has small white shoulder patches; iris dark brown; bill, legs and feet black; 18cm Habitat: open grassveld, rolling grassy hills, shrubby semi desert, usually with termite mounds Behavior: solitary, in pairs or in small groups of 6 or more birds; perches on termite mound, bush, fence or telephone wire, especially along country roads; flies with blur of white wings; often raises tail after landing; forages buy hopping or running on ground (mainly in winter) or by dropping onto prey from perch (mainly in summer); may forage in association with Aardwolf Proteles cristatus, sometimes perching on Aardwolf’s back Food: insects (ants, termites, beetles, bugs, caterpillars), millipedes, fruit Nest: bowl of dry grass and fine rootlets; in chamber at end of self-excavated burrow in road-cutting, quarry or stream bank; excavation and building by both sexes Where seen: field side and mountains, common resident

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Karoo Robin Erythropygia coryphoeus Karruheckensänger slangverklikker

Identification: grayish brown, paler below; eyebrow and throat whitish; tail blackish, tail-tips white; iris brown; bill, legs and feet blackish; 17cm Habitat: karoo, bushy hillsides Behavior: usually solitary or in pairs; bold, inquisitive; when disturbed perches on top of bush or rock, flicking tail and calling loudly; flies with fanned tail to cover of bush if alarmed; forages on ground or among low branches of bushes; runs well Food: insects, worms, Lyciumfruits Nest: cup of dry succulent stems and grass, neatly lined with hair; on ground under bush, well hidden Where seen: field side, very common resident

Longbilled Crombec Sylvietta rufescens Langschnabel Sylvietta bosveldstompstert

Identification: tail very short (looks tailless); above light gray; ear coverts and underparts pale tawny; bill long; dusky eye-stripe; distinct eyebrow; iris light brown; bill blackish, base pinkish; legs and feet pinkish to yellowish-brown; 10- 12cm Habitat: drier savanna with scattered trees and bushes, light mixed woodland and thorn veld, usually with secondary growth; avoids forests Behavior: usually solitary or in pairs; joins mixed bird parties; forages with restless agile hopes on trunks, leaves and twigs, usually starting low down and working up Food: insects

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Nest: hanging bag of grass, fibres, plant down and spider web, suspended from drooping branch or twig inside or under thorny bush or in lower branches of tree; 1-4,5m above ground Where seen: mountains, only once seen

Rufouseared Warbler Malcorus pectoralis Rotbackensanger rooioorlangstertjie

Identification: tail long; above buffy gray, streaked black; eyebrow whitish; lores, faces and earcoverts brick red (brighter in male, diagnostic); below white or off- white, washed buff on flanks; narrow black collar on throat (bolder in male, diagnostic); iris reddish hazel; bill black; legs and feet pinkish; 14-16cm Habitat: low shrubby vegetation on dry mountain slopes, karoo Behavior: usually solitary or in pairs; forages mainly on ground; alos low down in shrubs; hops and bounds quickly over ground with tail cocked, especially when disturbed, disappearing between bushes, male sings from top of low bush or tall shrub; male displays to female with jerking body and tail, fluttering wings and song Food: insects, including ants Nest: untidy oval with side-top entrance, of dry grass leaves and stems; 20- 120cm above ground in shrub or bush Where seen: field side, not seen very often

Fairy Flycatcher Stenostria scita Elfenschnäpper feevlieevanger

Identification: build slender; above blue-gray; facemask black; eyebrow white; wing black with conspicuous white wing-bar; tail longish, black with white outer tail-feathers; breast soft blue-gray; rest of underparts white, tinged salmon pink on throat and upper belly; iris dark brown; bill, legs and feet black; 12cm

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Habitat: while breeding: fynbos, karoo scrub, bushy hillsides; while nonbreeding: acacia savanna, riverine thornbush, exotic plantations, gardens Behavior: in pairs when breeding; otherwise usually solitary; forages inside leafy canopy of bushes and trees, darting restlessly, gleaning insects from twigs and leaves; often droops wings and slightly raises and spreads tail Food: small insects Nest: small cup with thick compact walls of bark shreds, grass and dead leaves, bound with spider web; thickly lined with wool, hair and feathers; as low as 20cm above ground in bush or among fallen branches; built by female only in about 4 days Where seen: around research station, seasonal migrant

Fiscal Shrike Lanius collaris Fiskalwürger fiskaallaksman

Identification: above black to below eye; white wing-bar extending to shoulder (bold white V on back); no eyebrow; rump gray or white; below white, washed gray on flanks and sometimes on breast; small chestnut brown patch on lower flank of female; tail longish, slim, black, with white outer rectrices and tips; bill heavy, hooked; iris brown; bill, legs and feet black; 23cm Habitat: open grassland with scattered bushes, fences or other perches, bushy hillsides, savanna, farmyards, gardens Behavior: usually solitary; sometimes in pairs; perches conspicuously on bush, fence, telephone wire or tree, dropping to ground to catch prey; on returning to perch often wags tail from side to side; carries prey in bill or feet; may impale prey on thorn, sharp twig or barbed wire fence, returning to feed on it later if necessary; often aggressive towards other birds; hops on ground; flight direct with rapid wingbeats Food: insects, spiders, small rodents, small birds, small frogs and tadpoles, lizards, snakes, also seeds

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Nest: thick-walled, often bulky, bowl of grass, twigs, string and leaves, lined with soft plant material; 1-6m above ground, in vertical or horizontal fork of bush or tree, built by female Where seen: field side, very common resident

Bokmakierie Telophorus zeylonus Bokmakiri

Identification: top of head gray; back bright olive green; eyebrow and underparts bright chrome yellow; broad collar in black on upper breast; tail black, tipped chrome yellow, central rectrices dull olive; iris brown, purpish or grayish; bill black; legs and feet blue-gray; 23cm Habitat: very variable; bushy hillsides with rocks, aloes and Euphorbia, riverine scrub, thickets in open grassveld, gardens, farmyards, in semi-arid regions Behavior: solitary or in pairs; sings all year round from top of bush, tree, post, fence or roof, head thrown back and bill wide open, the calls are duets between both sexes; forages low down in undergrowth or on ground; runs well Food: insects, small lizards and snakes, frogs, small birds Nest: bulky bowl of twigs, stems, roots and herbs; in dense hedge, bush or fork of leafy tree; from ground level to about 2m above ground Where seen: around research station and field side, very common resident

Palewinged Starling Onychognathus nabouroup Bergstar bleekvlerkspreeu

Identification: tail longish; legs short; entirely glossy blue-black; wing primaries creamy white, edged chestnut, tipped black (look white in flight, rusty when folded); iris orange- red; bill, legs and feet black; 26cm Habitat: cliffs, gorges, rocky hills and mountains in arid to semi-arid country Behavior: gregarious even when breeding; forages arboreally or on ground, hopping with big strides(does not walk); perches on Klipspringers Oreotragus oreotragus (and occasionally other mammals) to search for ectoparasites Food: insects, ticks, fruit Nest: bowl of grass, lined with fine rootlets and horsehair, usually in deep vertical crevice of rock cliff beyond reach of baboons Where seen: around research station and field side, very common resident

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Cape Glossy Starling Lamprotornis nitens Rotschulterglanzstar kleinglansspreeu

Identification: entirely metallic blue-green; iris orange-yellow; bill, legs and feet black; 23-25cm Habitat: riverine bush, semi- arid scrub, forest edges, farmyards, gardens, towns Behavior: in pairs when breeding, otherwise more or less gregarious in small flocks of about 6-10 birds; forages arboreally or on ground; runs well on longish legs; flight fast and fairly direct with loud whooshing wing noises; sings on top of tree, telephone line Food: insects, fruit, nectar of aloes Nest: pad of grass, snakeskin, paper, dung and other soft materials; in natural hole in tree, under eaves of buildings, in chimney; from 1,5-5m above ground Where seen: around research station and field side, very common resident

Nectar feeders

Malachite Sunbird Nectarinia famosa Malachitnektarvogel jangroentjie

Identification: female: above yellowish gray; malar stripe and cheek yellow; bellow yellowish gray, shading to whitish on belly; tail dusky, edged white (conspicuous in flight); no long central rectrices; breeding male: entirely bright metallic green, blue-black wings and tail; pectoral tufts bright yellow; central rectrices greatly elongated; nonbreeding male: mostly similar to female, sometimes with few metallic green feathers; long central rectrices present or absent; large size and voice diagnostic; iris brown; long bill, legs and feet black; MM 25cm, FF 15cm Habitat: variable; scrubby hillsides in mountainous country, alpine grasslands, succulent arid steppe of Namaqualand, riverine thorn bush, gardens, parks, exotic plantations Behavior: usually solitary; in pairs when breeding; probes flowers for nectar; hawks insects in flight with snap of bill; active, conspicuous and aggressive; flight dashing, long rectrices of male streaming or whipping up and down; male sings from inside bush Food: nectar, insects, spiders

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Nest: oval of grass, leaves, twigs; bound with spider web; side-top entrance usually with porch; suspended from grass tuft hanging branch, upright fork, overhanging stream or cliff face; usually 1-2m above ground; built by female only in 7-21 days Where seen: field side, not seen very often, resident in lower-lying areas; seasonal migrant from higher region in winter

Lesser Doublecollared Sunbird Nectarinia chalybea Halsbandnektarvogel kleinrooiborssuikerbekkie

Identification: male: head, throat and back bright metallic golden green; lower rump blue; belly brownish gray; breast bright red, about 8-10mm wide, bordered above by narrow metallic blue band; tail black, edged and tipped gray; may have eclipse plumage; female: above brownish gray; below light yellowish gray; iris dark brown; long bill, legs and feet black; 12cm Habitat: from evergreen forest and bush to Karoo, Eucalyptusplantations, gardens Behavior: solitary, in pairs or in small groups of 5-6 birds, forages in forest canopy or lower down in bush, often hovering to take spiders out of webs, or to catch insects in air; flight quick Food: nectar of indigenous and exotic flowers, juice of overripe figs, insects, spiders Nest: oval of grass, lichen, twigs and rootlets, bound with spider web, lined with wool and feathers; side-top entrance with or without porch; 15cm – 10m above ground, suspended from branch or built into foliage of shrub, bush or tree; sometimes on electric wires near buildings; built by female only in 7-30 days Where seen: around research station, only seen once

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Seedeaters

House Sparrow Passer domesticus Haussperling huismossie

Identification: rump gray; male: crown and nape gray in center, chestnut at sides; forehead, eyestripe, throat and upper breast black, scaled white on breast; mantle tawny, streaked black; wingbar white; rest of underparts dull white; female: above pale brown, streaked black on back; eyebrow white; face gray; dusky line through eye; below off-white; iris brown; bill black (breeding male) or horn (female and nonbreeding male); legs and feet pinkish brown; 15cm Habitat: urban, suburban and rural human settlements in all habitats Behavior: in pairs or family groups when breeding; otherwise more or less gregarious, sometimes in flocks of hundreds of birds; forages by hopping on ground; highly vocal except when feeding Food: seeds, soft buds, fruit, insects, spiders Nest: untidy rounded mass of grass, wool, feathers and other soft materials, with side entrance; in hole in building or tree Where seen: around research station, very common resident

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Cape Sparrow Passer melanurus Kapsperling gewone mossie

Identification: male: head and breast black with broad semicircles of white from behind eyes to sides of throat, not quite meeting in center; mantle grayish; back, rump and upperwing coverts bright rufous; conspicuous white wingbar; rest of underparts white; female: somewhat like male, but duller; head and breast dark gray with paler semicircles from behind eyes to throat; wingbar dull white; iris dark brown; bill black; legs and feet black; 15cm Habitat: arid and semi-arid savanna, thorn bush along watercourses, farmland in highveld, parks, towns Behavior: in pairs or family groups when breeding; otherwise more or less gregarious, sometimes in flocks of hundreds of birds; forage by hopping on ground; may hawk flying insects; starts singing at dawn, vocal all year Food: mainly seeds; also insects, buds Nest: large untidy hollow ball of grass, weeds, feathers, string, cotton, with side entrance tunnel; from 2-20m above ground in bush, tree, telephone pole crossbar; often colonial in arid regions, up to 30 nests in one tree, built by both sexes Where seen: around research station, very common resident

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Cape Weaver Ploceus capensis Kapweber Kaapse wewer

Identification: bill relatively long; head slopes smoothly back from tip of bill to top of crown; above grayish olive, lightly streaked dusky; throat and breast buff, shading to white over rest of underparts; flanks washed olive; iris yellow / white (male), brown (female); bill black (male), pinkish (female); feet pinkish; 16-18cm breeding male: head brownish orange; black eye-line not extending behind the eye; darker olive on back Habitat: open – woodland, wooded rivers, streams, reed beds near trees, farmland, parks, gardens Behavior: usually gregarious in small groups, sometimes solitary or in pairs; forages on ground and in trees, visit bird tables; large and aggressive, chases other birds at food source, flight fast and direct Food: insects, seeds, flower parts, nectar Nest: male polygamous; oval to kidney-shaped chamber woven by male of relatively broad strips of grass and palm leaf, with attached to drooping branches of trees, upright reeds or telephone lines, 4-10m above ground; colonial in groups of up to about 10 nests Where seen: around research station, common resident

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Masked Weaver Ploceus velatus Maskenweber swartkeelgeelvink

Identification: female and nonbreeding male: above dull olive, streaked darker on upper back; throat yellowish white, shading to buff on breast and white on belly; breeding male: forecrown, face and throat black, ending in point on center of breast; hindcrown and nape yellow; rest of upperparts yellowish green, faintly streaked darker; rest of underparts bright yellow; iris red to orange-red (male) or brown to gray- brown (female); bill black (breeding male) or pinkish horn (female, nonbreeding male); legs and feet brownish pink; 15cm Habitat: almost all habitats except coastal bush; mostly savanna, farmland with clumps of trees, exotic plantations, semi-arid scrub Behavior: gregarious; foraging flocks usually 5-20 birds; breeding colonies often much larger; forages on ground or in trees Food: insects, seeds, flower parts, nectar Nest: neat rounded oval woven by male of strips of grass and reed leaves; vertical entrance; attached to dropping branch of tree or between upright reed stems, over water when available; at almost any height above ground; male may have up to 12 nests at one time but up to 9 different males may display at one nest; male polygamous Where seen: around research station, common resident

Whitethroated Canary Serinus gularis Weisskehlgirlitz witkeelkanarie

Identification: build robust; sexes alike; above grayish brown, streaked dusky; rump bright greenish-yellow to lemon-yellow; eyebrow and throat white; breast light gray, shading to pinkish buff belly and white undertail; tail notched; bill heavy; iris brown; bill horn; legs and feet blackish brown; 15cm Habitat: riverine thorn bush and shrubs in semi-arid to arid grassveld and desert; also coastal bush; usually near water Behavior: usually solitary or in pairs; sometimes in small groups of up to 8 birds; forages on ground, aloes and bushes; usually rather quiet, except of callnote on take-off

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Food: seeds, berries, buds, insects Nest: cup of fine twigs and grass stems; lined with plant down; 1-3m above ground in fork of bush or low tree; built by female only Where seen: around research station, common resident

Cape Bunting Emberiza capensis Kapammer rooivlerkstreepkoppie

Identification: sexes are alike; crown and back gray streaked blackish; sides of head boldly striped black and white; wings bright rusty; throat white; rest of underparts gray, paler on belly; iris brown; bill slate black, base bluish or pinkish; legs and feet dark horn; 16cm Habitat: rocky places from high mountains to coast, including riverine gorges, even in arid country; usually near water Behavior: usually solitary or in pairs; does not flock; forages on ground, walking with short steps, or hopping; sings from top of rock or low bush; flight low Food: insects, spiders, seeds Nest: cup of twigs, grass and roots, untidy outside; on or close to ground in low bush or creeper, often next to rock; sometimes in bushy vegetation op to 10m above foot of rocky cliff Where seen: around research station and field side, very common resident

Reference: Newman, K. (1983). Newman’s birds of Southern Africa. the green edition. Southern Book Publishers Roberts Multimedia. Birds of Southern Africa. Version 2

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