Birds are a class of vertebrate animals characterised by the presence of feathers. Like terrestrial vertebrates they are quadrupeds, but with one pair of limbs adapted for flight.
The bill is characteristic of what the bird eats and thus helps with identification. Similarly, the legs and feet are indicators of the habitat and habits of the bird.
Other important features that aid identification are wattles, eye-rings and unfeathered facial skin. Colour of plumage is a clear factor in identification. Technical reference to types of feathers has been kept to a minimum, but certain basic terms are unavoidable and are shown in the illustration above.
Over 900 birds are found in southern Africa, of which 620 are covered in this chapter. Birds that are seldom seen because of their habits, or are rare, have been excluded (although some rarities, such as the Blue Swallow, are described because of the widespread public concern for their survival).
Most species of birds are closely associated with their preferred habitats (see map on p. 3) which are important when trying to identify particular birds. The main habitat types are:
• Coastal bush Typical birds are doves, louries, barbels, bulbuls, robins, shrikes, flycatchers and sunbirds.
• Indigenous forest Birdlife is similar to that of coastal bush but may include different species, such as bush shrikes, and raptors such as the Crowned Eagle and African Goshawk.
• Bushveld Birdlife is very rich; typical birds being drongoes, cuckoos, kingfishers, woodhoopoes, bee-eaters, woodpeckers, hornbills and numerous raptors.
• Grassland Francolins, korhaans, cisticolas, larks and pipits are common. In montane grassland, cold winters and wind keep vegetation sparse and stunted. Birdlife here includes specialised species such as rockjumpers, rock thrushes and chats. Larger birds are Bearded and Cape vultures, Black Eagles and Jackal Buzzards.
• Semi-desert and desert Terrestrial birds such as larks, sandgrouse and bustards are common, with some species being very localised in their distribution.
• Fynbos Some endemic species, including sugarbirds, sunbirds and canaries, are common.
• Wetlands Varying in size and vegetation, wetlands are generally prolific in birdlife. Waders, ducks and other waterfowl congregate here and the presence of reedbeds attracts bishops and weavers.
• Artificial habitats These are playing an increasing role in the distribution of birds. Mature suburban gardens simulate woodland and attract a wide range of species. Man-made dams and ponds are more numerous in some inland areas than natural wetlands, and are rich in waterbirds.
About 150 species of birds migrate to this region for the southern African summer months. The majority come from the northern hemisphere where many of them breed (the European Swallow and White Stork are typical examples). Some, such as flamingoes, come from central Africa, while still others, such as Striped Swallows, breed here in summer and migrate some distance northwards into Africa for a few months during winter.
In addition to the long-distance migrants, many species migrate seasonally within the region, generally moving between higher and lower altitudes.
Different migrant species appear to use different navigational techniques. Some fly by night and navigate by the stars, others use the sun, while yet others seem able to utilise the earth’s magnetic field.
The following terms are used in the descriptions:
• Resident: a bird that stays in the region all year round and breeds here
• Visitor: a bird that spends one season (usually summer) here but does not breed
• Summer/winter resident: a bird that spends only the particular season here but breeds in that time.
A great many birds are territorial, and males proclaim and defend their breeding territories by means of song and posturing. These songs are often highly distinctive and provide a useful means of identifying the bird. Males and females also indulge in a variety or courtship rituals, such as the presentation of food or nesting material to their mate, aerial display and posturing. Most species construct nests in which to incubate their eggs and rear their young. Some, such as the cuckoos and whydahs, lay their eggs in the nests of other species, leaving the unsuspecting host to rear the chick or brood.
In this chapter, the dimensions given for the birds refer to total length - from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail with the bird extended, as when laid out on a table.
1 AFRICAN PENGUIN
Black-and-white facial pattern. White underparts with encircling black bar. Call: donkey-like braying. Singly or in groups in coastal waters, or large concentrations on offshore islands. Western and southern Cape coasts. Resident.
Thalassarche melanophrys
2 BLACKBROWED ALBATROSS
Adult has all-yellow, pink-tipped bill. Immature has grey bill with dark tip. Huge, narrow-winged pelagic seabird. Glides close to water’s surface. Most common albatross in Cape waters. Entire southern African coastline. Visitor throughout the year but mainly in the winter.
Similar
ATLANTIC YELLOWNOSED ALBATROSS T. chlororhynchos
Yellow confined to upper bill. Common in winter off east coast.
SHY ALBATROSS T. cauta
Very narrow black borders under wings. Seen mainly in winter.
WANDERING ALBATROSS Diomedea exulans
White face, black markings on tail. Uncommon.
Procellaria aequinoctialis
3 WHITECHINNED PETREL
Pale greenish bill. White chin variable. Dark, large, long-winged pelagic bird. Stiff-winged flight. Gregarious in large numbers around trawlers. Entire coastline. Visitor.
Similar
NORTHERN GIANT PETREL Macronectes halli
Massive flesh-yellow bill with dark tip.
SOUTHERN GIANT PETREL M. giganteus
Pale flesh-coloured bill with greenish tip.
PINTADO PETREL Daption capense
Pied, two white patches on each upperwing.
Puffinus griseus
4 SOOTY SHEARWATER
Long thin bill, sooty-brown body with conspicuous pale areas on underwings. Short rounded tail. Feeds in mixed flocks, sometimes in thousands. Seen close inshore in Cape waters but occurs off entire coastline. Visitor, mainly in winter.
Similar
GREAT SHEARWATER P. gravis
Distinctive black cap, white collar, dark smudges on belly.
CORY’S SHEARWATER Calonectris diomedea
Yellow bill. No cap. Laboured flight.
Oceanites oceanicus
5 WILSON’S STORM PETREL
Broad, rounded wings, uniformly dark underwing pattern. White rump. Long, spindly legs projecting beyond square tail. Yellow-webbed feet, although difficult to detect. Flight action swallow-like. All pelagic waters; usually seen only far out at sea. All-year visitor.
Similar
EUROPEAN STORM PETREL Hydrobates pelagicus
Pointed wings with white stripe below. Legs do not project beyond tail.
1 CAPE GANNET
Distinctive black lines on bill and face, plus long black line down centre of throat. Large black-and-white seabird with yellow head and hind neck. Offshore, singly or in straggling groups. Large flocks over fish shoals, with individuals plunge-diving repeatedly. Roosts colonially. Entire southern African coastline. Resident.
Larus cirrocephalus
2 GREYHEADED GULL
All-grey hood, pale yellow eyes, red bill and legs. Immature has white head. Scavenger. Call: loud scream while feeding. Small and large flocks at large inland waters and coast. Widespread except western interior. Resident.
Similar
HARTLAUB’S GULL L. hartlaubii
White head, dark eyes, deep red bill and legs. West coast.
Larus dominicanus
3 KELP GULL
Yellow bill with red spot. Dark eyes. Whitish-yellow feet. Immature mottled dark brown, pale rump; becomes paler with age. Call: harsh “ki-ok”. Coastal waters including estuaries, and dumps, singly or in small groups. Entire coast. Common resident.
Rynchops flavirostris
4 AFRICAN SKIMMER
Red bill with distinct structure. Brown and white tern-like body. Feeding action diagnostic: flies low over water with long lower mandible skimming below surface. Rests on sandbanks on lakes and large, permanent rivers, particularly Okavango, Zambezi, Chobe. Summer resident.
Sterna caspia
5 CASPIAN TERN
Massive red bill. Black cap. Largest tern in southern Africa. Tail deeply forked. Agile flight. Call: grating “kraak”. Estuaries, lagoons along entire coastline, and large inland waters. Resident.
Similar
SANDWICH TERN S. sandvicensis
Long, thin black bill with yellow tip. Summer visitor.
SWIFT TERN S. bergii
Yellow bill. Intermediate size. Resident.
COMMON TERN S. hirundo
Red bill has black tip in breeding plumage. Occurs in thousands offshore. Summer visitor.
Chlidonias hybridus
6 WHISKERED TERN
Heavy red bill when in breeding plumage, otherwise black as in other marsh terns. Black cap. Pale grey rump. Call: repeated, hard “zizz”. In small numbers at various open freshwater bodies. Widespread. Resident.
Similar
WHITEWINGED TERN C. leucopterus
Black underwing coverts when breeding. Non-breeding bird has white rump. Summer visitor.
1 GREAT WHITE PELICAN
Bill pink with blue-grey sides and yellowish pouch. All-white appearance. During breeding head, neck and body show pale pink flush. In flocks on coastal islands, estuaries, lagoons, large inland waters. Often associates with Pinkbacked Pelican. West, northwest and east. Resident.
Similar
PINKBACKED PELICAN P. rufescens
Pinkish-grey wings. Pale yellow bill with grey pouch.
Phalacrocorax africanus
2 REED CORMORANT
Yellow bill. Red eyes. Yellow to red facial skin. Male has small crest. Black with brown-speckled wings. Female blotched brown and off-white below. Singly or in groups on inland waters. Widespread. Resident.
Similar
BANK CORMORANT P. neglectus
Black with white rump. Crested head. Stocky. West coast.
CROWNED CORMORANT P. coronatus
All-black. Crested head. Short tail. West coast.
CAPE CORMORANT P. capensis
Black. No crest. Short tail. Flies over sea in long lines. Almost entire coast.
Phalacrocorax lucidus
3 WHITEBREASTED CORMORANT
Bright yellow patch at bill base, white throat and breast, body glossy black. Largest cormorant in southern Africa. Coastal habitats, large inland waters. Often perches or nests in dead trees. Roosts and breeds colonially. Widespread. Resident.
Anhinga melanogaster
4 AFRICAN DARTER
Pointed bill (not hooked), slender head, long thin neck with characteristic kink, rufous colouring. Call: croak. Inland waters, singly or in small groups. Swims with body submerged, only head and neck showing. Perches with outspread wings after swimming. Widespread. Resident.
Butorides striata
5 GREENBACKED HERON
Crown black, sides of neck and flanks grey, upperparts appear grey-green, feather edges creamy. Call: sharp “kaaek”. Wooded rivers, dams, estuaries, mangrove stands. Singly, during day, hunting from low perch above water or on shoreline. Northeast. Resident.
Similar
DWARF BITTERN Ixobrychus sturmii
Slate grey upperparts, heavily streaked underparts.
Summer resident.
LITTLE BITTERN I. minutus
Black cap and upper mandible. Rufous neck and underparts.
Ardeola ralloides
6 SQUACCO HERON
Yellowish bill, black culmen, pale buffy plumage and pale yellow legs. Lakes, lagoons, streams. Solitary. North and east. Resident or summer visitor.
1 BLACK HERON
Overall slaty plumage, black legs, yellow feet. Lakes, lagoons, floodpans. Singly or in small groups. Forms canopy with wings when fishing. North, central and east. Resident.
Nycticorax nycticorax
2 BLACKCROWNED NIGHT HERON
Red eyes, black bill, cap and back, contrasting with grey wings and underparts. River backwaters, lagoons, dams. Singly. Nocturnal, roosts by day in trees or waterside vegetation. Widespread except west and central areas. Nomadic resident.
Egretta alba
3 GREAT WHITE EGRET
Orange-yellow bill (black for short period when breeding), yellow eyes, white plumage. Long neck, long black legs, black feet. Dams, rivers, estuaries, floodpans. Singly. Stands motionless for long periods in shallows. North, east and south. Resident.
Similar
LITTLE EGRET E. garzetta
Long black bill and legs. Yellow feet. Always has head plumes.
YELLOWBILLED EGRET E. intermedia
Bill yellow. Upper legs yellow. Lower legs and feet dark green.
CATTLE EGRET Bubulcus ibis
Short yellow bill and legs. Brown feet.
Ardea cinerea
4 GREY HERON
Yellow bill. White head and neck. Black eye stripe. Pale yellow legs. Grey underwings. Call: loud “kraaunk”. Dams, rivers and lagoons. Solitary. Stands motionless in shallows or creeps forward in hunched position. Throughout southern Africa. Resident.
Similar
BLACKHEADED HERON A. melanocephala
Black-topped head and hind neck, white throat. Grasslands.
Ardea goliath
5 GOLIATH HERON
Robust. Rufous head and neck. Grey above, underparts rufous. Call: harsh “kraauk”. Rivers, dams, estuaries. Singly or in pairs, standing motionless or walking slowly. Slow, heavy wingbeats. Central and northern areas. Resident.
Similar
PURPLE HERON A. purpurea
Slender, thin neck and bill. Solitary, secretive.
Glareola pratincola
6 COLLARED PRATINCOLE
Short decurved bill. Red gape. Buff throat edged by thin black line. Olive-green above. Rufous under otherwise black wing. Large flocks in floodlands, estuaries. Settles briefly with raised wings before rising again. Zambezi, Okavango and east coast. Summer resident.
Similar
BLACKWINGED PRATINCOLE G. nordmanni
Black gape. No rufous under wing. Central interior. Summer visitor.
Struthio camelus
7 COMMON OSTRICH
Long grey neck. Male black with white wings and chestnut tail. Female drab brown. Call: roar. Wooded grassland, thornveld. Throughout southern Africa, often domesticated. True wild birds only in Namibia and Kalahari. Resident.
1 SADDLEBILLED STORK
Black-and-red banded bill, yellow saddle at bill base. Male has brown eyes and yellow wattle. Female yellow eyes, no wattle. Large rivers, floodplains, dams, marshes. Solitary or in pairs. Northeast. Resident.
Leptoptilos crumeniferus
2 MARABOU STORK
Massive bill, bare head and neck, fleshy pouch on foreneck. In flight shows black wings, white body and tucked-in neck. Game reserves, refuse dumps, abattoirs. Small to large flocks. Inactive on sandbanks for much of the time. Soars to great heights. Northern half of region. Resident.
Ciconia ciconia
3 WHITE STORK
Red bill and legs, black-and-white body. Grassland, bushveld, vleis, pastures. Singly or in flocks. Often soars, travels at great height. Erratic movements in response to pest infestations, feeding for a few days before moving on. Widespread. Summer visitor.
Similar
WOOLLYNECKED STORK C. episcopus
Woolly white neck. Black face, bill and body. Northeast. Resident.
YELLOWBILLED STORK Mycteria ibis
Yellow bill, red face and forehead, pink legs.
Ciconia abdimii
4 ABDIM’S STORK
Tawny bill, blue face, pale legs with pink ankles and feet. In flight shows white rump. Grassland, agricultural land, bushveld. Soars at great height, usually in large flocks, associating with white storks. Moves in response to insect outbreaks. Widespread except south and west. Summer visitor.
Similar
BLACK STORK C. nigra
Red bill, long red legs. Singly or in pairs. Resident.
AFRICAN OPENBILL Anastomus lamelligerus
Tawny bill with open gap between mandibles. Body appears black.
Scopus umbretta
5 HAMERKOP
Flattened, heavy black bill, large backward-directed crest, dull brown plumage. Call: nasal “wek-wek-wek”. Freshwater bodies. Usually singly, feeding in shallows, stalking and stirring its feet to disturb prey. Nest is large dome in waterside tree. Widespread. Resident.
Phoenicopterus ruber
6 GREATER FLAMINGO
Pink bill, black tip. In flight forewings scarlet. Plumage mostly white. Very long red legs and white neck. Call: honk. Shallow lakes, salt pans, estuaries. Small to huge concentrations. Feeds with bill upside down, sifting silt. Widespread. Nomadic resident.
Similar
LESSER FLAMINGO P. minor
Uniform dark red bill; looks black at distance. Plumage appears dark pink.
Platalea alba
7 AFRICAN SPOONBILL
Long, flattened, spoon-shaped red and blue bill. Red legs. White plumage. Call: low “kaark”. Dams, seasonal pans, lagoons, rivers. Singly or in groups. Feeds with side-to-side sweeping motion of bill. Widespread except west. Resident.
1 AFRICAN SACRED IBIS
Decurved black bill, unfeathered black head, neck and legs, white plumage. Marshy ground, sewage works, dams, croplands. Singly or in flocks. Often fly in V-formation. Widespread except some western areas. Resident.
Bostrychia hadedash
2 HADEDA IBIS
Decurved bill, red upper mandible. White cheek stripes. Drab brown plumage with glossy pink shoulder patch. Call: loud “ha-ha-haadada”, often in unison. Suburban gardens, grassland, plantations, near water, damp ground. Usually small groups. Roosts in tall tree. North, east and south. Resident.
Similar
SOUTHERN BALD IBIS Geronticus calvus
Dark, glossy blue plumage. Bright red bill, bald head, pink legs. Drakensberg and surrounds.
GLOSSY IBIS Plegadis falcinellus
Slender. Bronze-brown. Iridescent green wings and tail.
Podica senegalensis
3 AFRICAN FINFOOT
Bright orange bill and legs. Stout neck. Speckled plumage on back. Quiet, densely vegetated rivers. Swims furtively beneath overhanging branches with body largely submerged, head and neck stretched forward with each stroke. East coast and northeast. Resident.
Alopochen aegyptiaca
4 EGYPTIAN GOOSE
Pink bill, rufous eye patch, long neck, long pink legs, brown patch on breast. Call: male hisses, female honks; socially very noisy. Most freshwater bodies, also fields, sandbanks, often in pairs. Flies to grazing grounds in evenings. Throughout southern Africa. Resident.
Similar
AFRICAN PYGMY GOOSE Nettapus auritus
Much smaller (33 cm). Short yellow bill, white face, dark green upperparts. Northeast.
Plectropterus gambensis
5 SPURWINGED GOOSE
Pink bill and legs. Male has fleshy caruncle on forehead. Glossy black body. Throat, underparts white. Call: “chi-chi-chi” in flight. Large rivers, floodplains, dams. Flocks graze in grassland during day. Widespread except west-central areas. Resident.
Dendrocygna viduata
6 WHITEFACED DUCK
White face, black head and neck, dark plumage. Erect stance. Immature has smudged brown face. Call: three-note whistle. Dams, rivers, estuaries, sewage pans. Pairs or flocks, usually standing ashore. Northeast. Resident.
Similar
FULVOUS DUCK D. bicolor
Rufous head, cream flanks, white rump in flight.
WHITEBACKED DUCK Thalassornis leuconotus
Pale spot at bill base. Humped brownish back; swims with tail submerged.
SOUTH AFRICAN SHELDUCK Tadorna cana
Head of male all-grey. Head of female grey and white. Rufous body. Southwest.
1 REDBILLED TEAL
Red bill, pale cheeks, dark cap. Spotted body. In flight shows creamy speculum. Dams, floodplains, sewage pans. Large mixed flocks, smaller groups or pairs during rainy season. Throughout southern Africa. Resident.
Similar
HOTTENTOT TEAL A. hottentota
Grey-blue bill. Creamy cheeks with dark smudge.
CAPE TEAL A. capensis
Pink upturned bill. Speckled head. Small, pale body.
Netta erythrophthalma
2 SOUTHERN POCHARD
Pale patch at bill base. Male has red eyes. Female pale crescent from eye to neck. Blue bill and feet, dark rufous plumage. White wing-bar in flight. Deep fresh waters in pairs or flocks. Throughout southern Africa. Resident.
Similar
MACCOA DUCK Oxyura maccoa
Female and non-breeding male have horizontal white facial stripe. Male in breeding plumage has cobalt blue bill, large black head, chestnut-brown body.
Anas undulata
3 YELLOWBILLED DUCK
Bright yellow bill with black central patch. Brown feathers edged white, appearing ashy. Upperwing shows green speculum with white border in flight. Female quacks when taking off. Pairs and flocks on open water. Widespread except northeast and arid west. Resident.
Similar
AFRICAN BLACK DUCK A. sparsa
Dark bill. Black with white spots on back. Rivers, streams.
CAPE SHOVELER A. smithii
Large dark spatulate bill. Orange legs. Speckled brown body.
Sarkidiornis melanotos
4 COMB DUCK
Head, neck speckled grey. Male has large fleshy caruncle on forehead and bill. Glossy blue upperparts, white underparts. Temporary bushveld pans, marshes, rivers. Pairs or flocks. Often perches in dead tree near water. North and east. Nomadic resident.
Tachybaptus ruficollis
5 LITTLE GREBE
Rufous neck. Creamy spot at base of bill when breeding. Small dark body. Call: descending whinnying trill. Freshwater bodies. Dives frequently. Skitters across water chasing rivals. Widespread. Resident.
Similar
BLACKNECKED GREBE Podiceps nigricollis
Red eyes. Dark upperparts. Silvery white underparts.
GREAT CRESTED GREBE P. cristatus
Ruby-red eyes. Dark double crest. White cheeks. Dark ruff.
Fulica cristata
6 REDKNOBBED COOT
Red eyes. White bill and frontal shield with double red knobs on forehead. All-black plumage. Call: harsh “crornk”. Freshwater bodies with reedbeds. Singly or in numbers along reed edges or ashore. Noisily pursues rivals across water. Widespread except northeast. Resident.
1 AFRICAN PURPLE SWAMPHEN
Massive red bill and red frontal shield. Purple and turquoise plumage. Pink legs. Call: various shrieks, groans, wails. Marshes, reedbeds, sewage pans. Singly or in pairs walking on mud flats and vegetation or clambering through tangled reeds. Widespread except west-central areas. Resident.
Similar
ALLEN’S GALLINULE P. alleni
Red bill. Blue shield. Green above. Dark blue head and body. Summer resident.
Gallinula chloropus
2 COMMON MOORHEN
Red bill with yellow tip. Red frontal shield. Body sooty black with white flank feathers. Legs yellow-green. Call: sharp “kr-rrrk”. Freshwater bodies with fringing reedbeds and grass. Singly or in pairs in open water or feeding ashore in marshlands. Widespread. Resident.
Similar
LESSER MOORHEN G. angulata
Mainly yellow bill. Greenish legs. Small, blackish waterbird. Summer resident.
Amaurornis flavirostris
3 BLACK CRAKE
Bright yellow bill. Red eyes and legs. Black plumage. Call: harsh “rr-rr-rr”, ending in croak. Dams, quiet rivers, floodplains with reedbeds. Singly or in loose groups at water’s edge or walking on floating vegetation. Shy. Widespread except western and central areas. Resident.
Similar
AFRICAN CRAKE Crecopsis egregia
Plain grey head and neck. Mottled upperparts. Barred below. Summer resident.
Rallus caerulescens
4 AFRICAN RAIL
Long, decurved red bill. Red legs. Dark grey head and breast. Brown upperparts. White-barred flanks and tail. Call: shrill whistle “cree-crak-crak-crak”. Reedbeds, dense marshy vegetation. Shy, skulking, fast-moving. Flicks tail continuously. Emerges at reed clearings, often in early morning. Central, northeastern areas and along south coast. Resident.
Sarothrura rufa
5 REDCHESTED FLUFFTAIL
Male has rufous head and breast. Dark streaked body and tail. Female has dark streaked plumage. Pale throat. Call: repeated low hoot mainly at night and on dull days. Marshes, vleis, damp valleys. Solitary, always well concealed in vegetation. South and east. Resident.
Similar
BUFFSPOTTED FLUFFTAIL S. elegans
Male has rufous head and neck. Spotted. Female more uniform.
Actophilornis africanus
6 AFRICAN JACANA
Blue frontal shield, yellow upper breast, rufous body. Call: loud “krrrk”. Pans, river backwaters with water lilies. Singly or in loose groups walking on floating vegetation. Often chase one another while calling noisily. North and east. Resident.
Similar
LESSER JACANA Microparra capensis
Rufous crown and eye-stripe, white belly, pale body. Small.
1 RUDDY TURNSTONE
Short black bill. Striking patterns on breast. Blackish upperparts (rufous when breeding). Orange legs. Distinct white bar on wings and back in flight. Call: hard “tuc-a-tuc”. Small flocks. Mud flats, rocky shores. Flicks stones and debris with its bill. Entire coastline. Summer visitor.
Vanellus armatus
2 BLACKSMITH LAPWING
Black bill and legs. Pied plumage with grey wings and mantle. Call: metallic “tink-tink-tink”. Calls repeatedly when disturbed. Margins of inland water bodies, moist grassland. Pairs, individuals or non-breeding flocks. Throughout southern Africa. Resident.
Vanellus coronatus
3 CROWNED LAPWING
Bill base red, tip black. Eyes pale yellow. Black cap, white crown, brown upperparts, long red legs. Call: noisy “kreep-kreep-kreeip” repeated day and night. Dry open ground, short grassy fields, parks, fallow land. Pairs or small groups. Often circles high up, calling repeatedly. Widespread. Resident.
Similar
AFRICAN WATTLED LAPWING V. senegallus
Bright yellow bill, wattles and legs. Streaked neck. Northeast.
WHITECROWNED LAPWING V. albiceps
Long yellow wattles. White band extends from bill over crown. Along large northeastern rivers.
SPURWING LAPWING V. lugubris
White forecrown, forward of eye. Eye-ring pale yellow. Mainly Mozambique.
BLACKWINGED LAPWING V. melanopterus
Red eye-ring. White forecrown extending above eye. Red legs. East coast.
Charadrius tricollaris
4 THREEBANDED PLOVER
Red eye-ring. Red bill with black tip. Two black breast bands. Call: high-pitched “wick-wick”. Singly or in pairs walking on sandy shores or in shallows. Throughout southern Africa. Resident.
Similar
CASPIAN PLOVER C. asiaticus
Pale eyebrow stripe. Breeding male has chestnut breast band
with black border. Summer visitor.
CHESTNUTBANDED PLOVER C. pallidus
Thin chestnut breast band, extending to crown in male.
COMMON RINGED PLOVER C. hiaticula
Yellow bill base, black tip. Black breast band. White collar. Summer visitor.
KITTLITZ’S PLOVER C. pecuarius
Black forehead stripe, extending through eye and around hindneck. Buff breast.
WHITEFRONTED PLOVER C. marginatus
Dark line from bill through eye. Slender bill. White collar.
Gallinago nigripennis
5 AFRICAN SNIPE
Long straight bill, striped head, barred tail and flanks, white belly. Call: drumming sound created by vibrating fanned tail feathers in steep downward flight. Wetlands, marshes, sewage pans, singly or in pairs. Widespread except west. Resident.
Similar
GREAT SNIPE G. media
Very similar. Extreme north and northeast. Summer visitor.
GREATER PAINTED SNIPE Rostratula benghalensis
White eye patch. Female has striking red-brown neck and breast.
1 COMMON GREENSHANK
Robust, slightly upturned bill. Green-grey legs. White underparts. White back in flight. Call: triple “tew-tew-tew”. Coastal and inland waters. Solitary. Throughout southern Africa. Summer visitor.
Similar
MARSH SANDPIPER T. stagnatilis
Straight slender bill. Yellowish legs.
Philomachus pugnax
2 RUFF
Short, straight bill with bulbous tip. Boldly scaled upperparts. Legs orange. In flight white oval patches on sides of tail. Coastal and inland waters. Singly or in flocks, standing in shallows. Takes flight in dense flocks. Throughout southern Africa. Summer visitor.
Similar
LITTLE STINT Calidris minuta
Much smaller (14 cm). Slender bill. Heavily blotched upperparts.
Actitis hypoleucos
3 COMMON SANDPIPER
Medium to short, robust bill. White area above shoulder. Brown upperparts, barred tail. Call: shrill “weet-a-weet”. Singly on shoreline of variety of wetlands. Often bobs hindquarters. Flies low with stiffly bowed wings, shallow wingbeats between short glides. Throughout southern Africa. Summer visitor.
Similar
WOOD SANDPIPER Tringa glareola
Straight bill. Broad eyebrow. Dark, well-spotted upperparts.
CURLEW SANDPIPER Calidris ferruginea
Decurved bill. Broad white rump in flight. Plain grey.
SANDERLING C. alba
Short thick bill. Dark shoulder patch. Pale shorebird.
RED KNOT C. canutus
Larger (25 cm). Short bill. Short-legged, dumpy. In flocks along entire coast.
TEREK SANDPIPER Xenus cinereus
Long upcurved bill. Short orange-yellow legs. Along coast.
GREY PLOVER Pluvialis squatarola
Larger (29 cm). Stout bill. Tucked-in neck. Grey body.
Black armpits in flight.
Haematopus moquini
4 AFRICAN BLACK OYSTERCATCHER
Bright red bill, eyes and legs. Black plumage. Call: “klee-kleep”. Rocky coastlines, estuaries, lagoons. In pairs or small flocks. Forages for food along shoreline. Threatened. Southern and western coastline. Endemic resident.
Numenius phaeopus
5 COMMON WHIMBREL
Decurved bill. Dark cap, pale eyebrow, central stripe on head. In flight extensive white rump and back. Call: twittering “peep-pee-pee-ee”. Estuaries, coastal lagoons, mud flats. Singly or in small groups standing or probing for food. Entire coastline. Summer visitor.
Similar
EURASIAN CURLEW N. arquata
Much larger (59 cm). Longer decurved bill. Paler plumage, lacking head stripes.
BARTAILED GODWIT Limosa lapponica
Smaller (39 cm). Long, slightly upcurved bill with red base.
1 PIED AVOCET
Thin, upturned bill. Black cap and hind neck. Black-and-white plumage. Long grey legs. Call: liquid “kloot”. Lakes, pans, lagoons, estuaries. Small to large flocks. Sweeps bill from side to side in shallows. Widespread. Nomadic resident.
Similar
BLACKWINGED STILT Himantopus himantopus
Slender, straight black bill. Long red legs.
Burhinus capensis
2 SPOTTED THICK-KNEE
Large yellow eyes. Spotted below. Yellow legs. Call: shrill “chwee-chwee” while flying about restlessly at night. Short grass, open rocky areas. Singly or in pairs. Mainly nocturnal. When disturbed, runs with lowered head. Throughout southern Africa. Resident.
Similar
WATER THICK-KNEE B. vermiculatus
Grey panel with black edges on folded wing. River edges.
Cursorius temminckii
3 TEMMINCK’S COURSER
Sharp, decurved bill. Rufous cap. Black-and-white stripes behind eye. Grey-brown above, rufous below. White legs. Call: sharp “err-err-err”. Short or burnt grassland. Pairs or groups. Stands upright, bobs head and tail, runs swiftly, then resumes feeding. Widespread except southwest. Nomadic resident.
Similar
BURCHELL’S COURSER C. rufus
Back of head grey. White bar on secondaries in flight.
BRONZEWINGED COURSER Rhinoptilus chalcopterus
Distinctive black and white mask. Red eye-ring, red legs.
DOUBLEBANDED COURSER R. africanus
Two thin black bands encircling upper breast. Pale body.
THREEBANDED COURSER R. cinctus
Three bands on neck and breast. Yellow bill base and eye-ring.
Lophotis ruficrista
4 REDCRESTED KORHAAN
Long neck. Upperparts have creamy-white V-markings. Black below. Female has white breast band. Red crest rarely seen. Call: series of clicks followed by shrill whistles. Singly or in pairs in grassland, bushveld. Displaying male flies up and suddenly tumbles out of the sky. North. Resident.
Afrotis afra
5 SOUTHERN BLACK KORHAAN
Pink bill. Barred above. Male has black neck, white ear patches.
South, west and central areas. Endemic resident.
Similar
NORTHERN BLACK KORHAAN A. afraoides
Identical except for white on wing tips in flight. Arid central areas.
BLACKBELLIED BUSTARD Lissotis melanogaster
Male has black extending in a line up neck to chin. Female is white below. Northeast.
WHITEBELLIED KORHAAN Eupodotis senagalensis
Front of neck blue-grey.
White belly. Male has dark cap and throat.
BLUE KORHAAN E. caerulescens
Blue-grey neck and underparts. Blue in wings in flight.
KAROO KORHAAN E. vigorsii
Black throat patch. Grey-brown head and neck. Arid southwest.
RUPPELL’S KORHAAN E. rueppellii
Similar to Karoo korhaan. Northwestern Namibia.
1 KORI BUSTARD
Yellow eyes and lower bill. Dark crest, grey neck. Call: booming “wum-wum-wummm”. Grassland, dry woodland. Singly or in pairs walking slowly or in slow flight. Elaborate courtship display. Largely restricted to game reserves. Resident.
Similar
LUDWIG’S BUSTARD Neotis ludwigii
Smaller (90 cm). Brown cap. Dark brown neck and breast. Little white on wings.
DENHAM’S BUSTARD N. denhami
Black cap. Conspicuous white markings on wing.
Sagittarius serpentarius
2 SECRETARYBIRD
Orange face. Loose black feathers behind head. Tail feathers project beyond legs in flight. Grassland, savanna. Walks or runs with wings outstretched. Soars to great heights. Roosts on top of trees. Throughout southern Africa. Resident.
Pternistis natalensis
3 NATAL SPURFOWL
Red bill, yellow base. Brown upperparts, black-and-white barred underparts. Red legs. Call: harsh “kwali, kwali, kwali”. Utters raucous cackling in alarm. Small parties in wooded, rocky habitat. Northeast. Resident.
Similar
REDBILLED SPURFOWL P. adspersus
All-red bill. Yellow eye-ring. Finely barred underparts. Northwest.
CAPE SPURFOWL P. capensis
Dark cap. Pale cheeks. Dark brown underparts streaked white. Southern coastal areas.
Pternistis swainsonii
4 SWAINSON’S SPURFOWL
Red face and neck. Black bill and legs. Plumage uniform brown. Call: harsh “krrraaak-krrraaak-krrraaak” fading at the end. Male calls from low branch or anthill. Singly or in groups in woodland, bushveld. North-central areas. Resident.
Similar
REDNECKED SPURFOWL P. afer
Face, bill, throat and legs all red. Black-and-white below. Also occurs far south.
Dendroperdix sephaena
5 CRESTED FRANCOLIN
Dark cap with broad white eyebrow. Dark blotched upper breast. Rufous above, pale below. Tail often raised. Call: shrill “kwerri-kwetchi” repeated. Bushveld, riverine thickets. In pairs or small groups. North and northeast. Resident.
Similar
ORANGE RIVER FRANCOLIN Scleroptila levaillantoides
Red spotting on underparts extending up to white throat.
REDWING FRANCOLIN S. levaillantii
Rufous from eye to lower hind neck. Black speckling on breast. Southeast.
GREYWING FRANCOLIN S. africanus
Throat freckled grey. Underparts finely barred. Greyish body. South.
SHELLEY’S FRANCOLIN S. shelleyi
Clear white throat, black surround. Black-barred belly.
COQUI FRANCOLIN Peliperdix coqui
Male has tawny head. Female has white throat with black border.
HARTLAUB’S SPURFOWL Pternistis hartlaubii
Large bill. Streaked underparts. North-central Namibia.
1 HELMETED GUINEAFOWL
Blue neck, red cap, bare casque on crown. Grey-and-white flecked body. Call: “ker-bek-ker-bek-ker-bek” repeated. Grassland, bushveld, farmlands. Forms large flocks when not breeding. Roosts in trees. Widespread except extreme west. Resident.
Similar
CRESTED GUINEAFOWL Guttera edouardi
Black head plumes. Red eyes. Black plumage with white spots. Northeastern forests.
Coturnix coturnix
2 COMMON QUAIL
Pale underparts. Pale facial markings. Call: piercing “whit-wittit”, repeated day or night at intervals. Bushveld, grassland, fields. Usually in pairs. Widespread except northeast, north-central and some western areas. Resident.
Similar
HARLEQUIN QUAIL C. delegorguei
Dark throat markings, especially in male. Chestnut underparts.
KURRICHANE BUTTONQUAIL Turnix sylvaticus
Pale eyes. Black spots on sides of neck and breast. Pale face.
BLACKRUMPED BUTTONQUAIL T. nanus
Brown eyes. Chestnut breast and face. Dark rump in flight.
Pterocles bicinctus
3 DOUBLEBANDED SANDGROUSE
Yellow eye-ring. Male has black-and-white bands on forehead and across breast. Female is finely barred. Call: soft, quick “weep-wee-choo-chippi”. Flocks come to drink after sunset. Northern half of region. Resident.
Similar
NAMAQUA SANDGROUSE P. namaqua
No forehead bands. Brown and white breast band. Long tail.
BURCHELL’S SANDGROUSE P. burchelli
Uniform ochre colouring with distinct white spots all over.
YELLOWTHROATED SANDGROUSE P. gutturalis
Pale yellow throat. Male’s throat bordered by black band.
Anthropoides paradiseus
4 BLUE CRANE
Bulbous head. Slender neck and trailing wing plumes. Blue-grey plumage. Call: far-carrying, nasal “kraaaarrk”. Hilly grassland, farmland, dams, vleis. Pairs or small groups. Non-breeding birds nomadic and gather in large flocks, preferring higher altitudes. Endangered. Southeast and northwest. Endemic resident.
Grus carunculata
5 WATTLED CRANE
White head and neck, grey crown. Red upper bill and face. Large white wattles on either side of face. Dark upperparts and tail. Call: loud, drawn-out, bell-like “horuk”. Pairs or small groups in vleis, marshes and high grassland in scattered localities. Endangered resident.
Balearica regulorum
6 GREY CROWNED CRANE
Golden crown. White upperwings in flight. Call: two-syllabled trumpeting “may hem”. Grassland, vleis, farmlands, dams. Usually in flocks. Roost in estuarine reedbeds or trees. North and along southeast coast into interior. Nomadic when not breeding. Resident.
1 CAPE VULTURE
Honey-coloured eyes. Pale creamy plumage, back is almost white. Two bare patches of blue skin at base of neck. Immature is rufous with pink neck. Breeds in large colonies on cliffs. Ranges far, singly or in small groups. Perches on pylons. Widespread in interior. Threatened. Endemic resident.
Similar
WHITEBACKED VULTURE G. africanus
Almost identical but eyes dark. White lower back visible from above.
Gypaetus barbatus
2 BEARDED VULTURE
Black mask across face, ending in “beard”. Loosely feathered head and legs. Rufous underparts. Wedge-shaped tail in flight. Remote high mountains. Soars by day. Nests on cliff ledges. Solitary. Restricted to Drakensberg in Lesotho and surroundings. Resident.
Aegypius tracheliotus
3 LAPPETFACED VULTURE
Red skin on head and neck. Large bill. Dark body. Streaked underparts, white “trousers”. Bushveld, thornveld, desert. Nests on tree tops. Usually solitary. Confined largely to major reserves. Northern half of region. Resident.
Similar
HOODED VULTURE Necrosyrtes monachus
Thin-billed. Pink face and neck. White ruff and white “trousers”.
WHITEHEADED VULTURE Aegypius occipitalis
Red and blue bill. Pink face and legs. White head and neck.
Haliaeetus vocifer
4 AFRICAN FISH EAGLE
White head and breast. Dark rufous upperparts, chestnut belly. Call: far-reaching, ringing “kiow-kiw-kiw” uttered while perched or in the air. Large rivers, lakes, dams, estuaries, lagoons. Usually in pairs, conspicuously perched. Flies low over water surface. Very vocal. Widespread except arid west and central areas. Resident.
Similar
PALMNUT VULTURE Gypohierax angolensis
White head, neck and body. Black lower wing feathers and tail. Eastern and northwestern borders of region.
OSPREY Pandion haliaetus
Crested. White underparts, dark upperparts. Near water. See main description on p. 132.
Milvus migrans
5 BLACK KITE
Yellow or black bill. Head brown or greyish; body brown. Forked tail constantly manoeuvred as rudder. Call: “kleeuw” in flight. Wide range of habitats. Singly, in pairs or large flocks at food source. Widespread. Summer resident.
Terathopius ecaudatus
6 BATELEUR
Scarlet face and legs. Tawny back. Long tapered wings, very short tail. Call: bark-like “kaw-aaaw”. Bushveld, savanna. Occurs singly or in pairs. Glides with sideways rocking motion as though balancing; very little wing flapping. Mostly in game reserves. North and east. Resident.
1 LONGCRESTED EAGLE
Pale eyes. Long crest. Dark plumage. Tail barred in flight. White wing bases. Call: shrill “wee-ar”. Wooded hills and valleys, plantations. Perches conspicuously. Soars early morning. Northern and eastern forests. Resident.
Aquila rapax
2 TAWNY EAGLE
Yellow cere and gape. Gape extends to below centre of eye. Variable mottling on wing from pale buff to dark brown. In flight little white on wings, none on upper tail coverts. Bushveld, thornveld. Singly or in pairs. Confined mostly to major reserves. Widespread except south. Resident.
Similar
STEPPE EAGLE A. nipalensis
Yellow gape extends beyond centre of eye. Adult dark brown. Summer visitor.
WAHLBERG’S EAGLE A. wahlbergi
In flight narrow, parallel wings and longish, square tail. Summer resident.
LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE A. pomarina
White spots on brown folded wings. Narrow “stovepipe” legs. Summer visitor.
BROWN SNAKE EAGLE Circaetus cinereus
White, unfeathered legs. Upright stance.
BOOTED EAGLE Aquila pennatus
White shoulder patch. Short broad tail, broad wings. Mainly southwest.
Aquila spilogaster
3 AFRICAN HAWK EAGLE
Dark cap. Spotted breast. White, unspotted thighs. In flight underwing whitish, upperwing dark brown with white patches. Broad terminal tail band. Call: whistle, “klu-klu-klee”. Woodland, savanna. Soars singly or in pairs in morning. Perches in leafy tree. North. Resident.
Similar
AYRES’ EAGLE A. ayresii
Underwing dark, barred. White shoulder patch on folded wing.
Stephanoaetus coronatus
4 AFRICAN CROWNED EAGLE
Crested head. Dark above, heavily blotched underparts. Under-wing coverts rufous. Short rounded wings. Long barred tail. Call: “kewee-kewee-kewee” during aerial display. Female’s call lower-pitched. Evergreen forest and along large rivers. East. Resident.
Polemaetus bellicosus
5 MARTIAL EAGLE
Dark brown head, throat, upper breast. Shows dark underwings in flight. Spotted underparts. Call: loud “kloo-ee, kloo-ee”. Variety of habitats, usually bushveld, savanna. Solitary. Hunts from perch or in flight. Widespread but scarce outside major reserves. Resident.
Similar
BLACKCHESTED SNAKE EAGLE Circaetus gallicus
Shows whitish underwings in flight. Unspotted underparts, bare legs.
Aquila verreauxii
6 VERREAUX’S EAGLE
Black with white V on back, white panels under wings. In flight wings are narrow at base, broadening towards middle. Mountainous regions, rocky hills, cliffs. Usually in pairs. Perches on rocks or flies quite low. Widespread, except for most of Botswana and Mozambique. Resident.
1 STEPPE BUZZARD
Dark eyes. Plumage varies from pale to dark brown. Pale zone across breast dividing streaked upper breast from banded underparts. Call: “kreeee” in flight. Grassland, open bushveld. Singly or in small groups, sitting on roadside poles or slowly circling overhead. Forms flocks when migrating. Widespread except in desert. Summer visitor.
Similar
FOREST BUZZARD B. trizonatus
Underparts have vertical blotches with clear patches. Southern and eastern forests. Endemic resident.
Buteo rufofuscus
2 JACKAL BUZZARD
Dark head and upperparts. Chestnut breast and tail. Rounded wings. Call: high-pitched “kwea-ka-ka-ka”. Montane areas and adjacent grassland, singly or in pairs. Perches on roadside poles. Central areas, south and west. Endemic resident.
Similar
AUGUR BUZZARD B. augur
White underparts and underwings. Zimbabwe and northwestern Namibia.
Elanus caeruleus
3 BLACKSHOULDERED KITE
Red eyes. Grey upperparts. White underparts and black shoulder patch. In flight pale plumage contrasts with black wing tips. Call: soft “weeep-weeep”. Grassland, open woodland. Usually singly. Perches conspicuously on roadside poles, telephone cables, bare trees. Frequently hovers. Throughout southern Africa. Resident.
Similar
LIZARD BUZZARD Kaupifalco monogrammicus
Vertical black streak down throat. Two broad white tail bands. Northeast.
PALLID HARRIER Circus macrourus
Yellow eyes. Tall. Pale grey upperparts, white underparts. Summer visitor.
Milierax gabar
4 GABAR GOSHAWK
Red eyes. Red cere and legs. Grey throat and breast. Broad white rump in flight. Melanistic form lacks white rump. Call: high-pitched whistle “pi-pi-pi ...”. Thornveld, mixed bushveld; favours semi-arid regions. Singly. Hunts from a concealed perch or in low flight across open savanna. Central areas and north. Resident.
Similar
LITTLE SPARROWHAWK Accipiter minullus
Yellow eyes. Slender yellow legs. Two white spots on uppertail.
SHIKRA A. badius
Red eyes. Yellow legs. Lacks white rump and tail spots.
OVAMBO SPARROWHAWK A. ovampensis
Brown eyes. Grey barring on underparts up to throat.
Cere and legs usually yellow, sometimes red.
Black-and-grey barred tail.
Polyboroides typus
5 AFRICAN HARRIER-HAWK
Bare yellow face, small head. Wings grey with black edging, broad and floppy. Black tail with single white central band. Long yellow legs. Call: whistled “peee-oooo”. Woodland, bushveld. Clambers about trees using legs to extract prey from cavities. Widespread except arid west. Resident.
Yellow eyes. Adult finely barred red-brown on front. Immature has bold dark blotches on underparts and grey cere. Male has grey upperparts and two white spots on tail. Female is much larger with brown upperparts and no tail spots. Call: “krit” by male during territorial display. Flies high with fast wing beats alternated with gliding. Riverine forests, montane woodland and other well-wooded regions. Active early mornings and evenings. Mainly northeast to south. Resident.
Similar
RUFOUSCHESTED SPARROWHAWK A. rufiventris
Dark head and upperparts. Uniform rufous underparts.
AFRICAN CUCKOO HAWK Aviceda cuculoides
Crest. Grey throat, rufous-barred belly. Buoyant flight.
SOUTHERN PALE CHANTING GOSHAWK Melierax canorus
Pale grey. Pink cere and legs. Upright stance. Western half of region.
DARK CHANTING GOSHAWK M. metabates
Darker grey than pale chanting goshawk. Upright stance. North and northeast.
Circus maurus
2 BLACK HARRIER
Yellow eyes. Black plumage. In flight long white flight feathers, white rump and long banded tail. Call: “pee-pee-pee” during display. Grassland, scrub, arid and mountainous regions. Singly or in pairs. Southern half of region. Endemic resident.
Similar
BLACK SPARROWHAWK Accipiter melanoleucus
Red eyes. White or blotched underparts. East and northeast.
BAT HAWK Macheiramphus alcinus
Pointed wings. White legs. Crepuscular. Northeast.
Circus ranivorus
3 AFRICAN MARSH HARRIER
Yellow eyes. Dark upperparts, rich rufous brown below. Barred flight feathers and tail. Long yellow legs. Immature has pale breast band. Marshland, reedbeds, adjoining fields. Singly, flying low, head bent down, resting on ground or post. Widespread except arid west. Resident.
Pandion haliaetus
Crested head. Black mask through eye. White underparts. Sometimes has streaky breast band. Singly on perches at water. Hunts fish in estuaries, large inland waters. North, east and south. Visitor, mainly in summer.
Falco biarmicus
5 LANNER FALCON
Rufous crown. Slate-grey above, pinkish-brown below. Immature more heavily blotched than immature peregrine falcon. Yellow feet. Call: harsh “kak-kak-kak”. Often along cliffs, sometimes around tall urban buildings. Flight characterised by wing flapping followed by circling glides. Throughout southern Africa. Resident.
Similar
PEREGRINE FALCON F. peregrinus
Dark crown. Underparts barred black and white.
REDNECKED FALCON F. chicquera
Chestnut crown and nape. Arid areas with acacia or palm trees.
EURASIAN HOBBY FALCON F. subbuteo
Heavily streaked underparts, rufous thighs and vent.
1 GREATER KESTREL
Whitish eyes. All-rufous plumage with blackish streaks and spots. White underwings in flight. Call: “kee-kee-krik” during display. Dry grassland, arid thornveld. Singly or in pairs, usually perched on poles or thorn trees. Sometimes hovers. Central areas and west. Resident.
Similar
ROCK KESTREL F. rupicolus
Blue-grey head (sometimes brown in females). Rocky hilly terrain.
LESSER KESTREL F. naumanni
Pale underparts. In flocks in open grassland.
AFRICAN HOBBY F. cuvierii
Dark upperparts. Unstreaked rufous underparts.
North-central areas. Summer resident.
Falco dickinsoni
2 DICKINSON’S KESTREL
Yellow around eyes, yellow cere. Pale grey head and neck. Grey body, pale rump. Yellow feet. Call: shrill “keee-keee-keee”. Bush-veld, often in baobabs or palms. Singly or in pairs. Hunts from tree. North and northeast. Resident.
Similar
AMUR FALCON F. amurensis
No rufous. Red feet. Male slate-grey, female barred below. Summer visitor.
REDFOOTED FALCON F. vespertinus
Red feet. Male grey with rufous vent. Female pinkish below. Summer visitor.
SOOTY FALCON F. concolor
Blackish face. Yellow legs. Eastern coastal bush. Summer visitor.
Polihierax semitorquatus
3 PYGMY FALCON
Red eyes. Grey upperparts, white underparts. Female has chestnut back. Wings speckled in flight. Red legs. Pairs usually perch in trees close to nests of Sociable Weavers or Redbilled Buffalo Weavers with which they live in close association. Arid west-central areas. Resident.
Apaloderma narina
4 NARINA TROGON
Emerald green head, upper breast (male) and back. Crimson underparts. Female has upper breast rufous to grey. Call: drawn-out, low, repeated “hoot-hoot”. Usually in pairs in forest, coastal bush. Secretive. Flight is rapid. Extreme north and east. Resident.
Corythaixoides concolor
5 GREY GO-AWAY BIRD
Previously called Grey Lourie. Entirely grey plumage with distinct head crest. Call: harsh “kweh-h-h”. Bushveld, dry woodland, gardens. Pairs or small parties, noisy and conspicuous, clambering about in trees or flying low with floppy wing beats. North. Resident.
Gallirex porphyreolophus
6 PURPLECRESTED TURACO
Red eye-ring. Purple crest. Bluish wings and tail, ochre-washed breast. Red in wings is conspicuous in flight. Call: loud “kokkok-kok-kok ...” rising in volume and accentuated towards end. Coastal and riverine forests, woodland. Usually in pairs, furtively clambering through dense foliage. Northeast. Resident.
Similar
KNYSNA TOURACO T. corythaix
White eye-ring and tips to crest. Green head and body.
1 CAPE TURTLE DOVE
Pale grey head. Black eyes. Black half-collar. Pallid grey under-parts, darker upperparts. White-tipped tail visible in flight. Call: “kuk-cooo-kuk” repeated. Most habitats. Throughout southern Africa. Resident.
Similar
AFRICAN MOURNING DOVE S. decipiens
Grey head. Yellow eyes with red eye-rings. Call: “kur-r-r-r”. Along Zambezi and Limpopo rivers.
REDEYED DOVE S. semitorquata
Grey crown. Red eyes with purple eye-rings. Breast deep pink.
Streptopelia senegalensis
2 LAUGHING DOVE
Pinkish head and neck. Cinnamon breast with black spots, cinnamon back. In flight white outer tail feathers conspicuous. Call: soft “coo-coo-cook-coo-coo”. Wide variety of habitats. Throughout southern Africa. Resident.
Oena capensis
3 NAMAQUA DOVE
Yellow bill. Male has black face and throat. Small, with long tail and chestnut flight feathers. Call: hooting “twoo-hoo”. Dry grassland, thornveld, fallow fields. Singly or in pairs. Swift flight. Widespread. Nomadic resident.
Turtur chalcospilos
4 EMERALD-SPOTTED WOOD DOVE
Dark bill. Pale grey forehead. Grey-brown upperparts. Buffy under-parts, green wing-spots. Call: low, descending cooing “du-du ... du-du ... du ... du-du-du-du-du-du”. Woodland, bushveld, riverine and coastal bush. Often seen on ground, flying quickly when disturbed. North and east. Resident.
Similar
TAMBOURINE DOVE T. tympanistria
White face and underparts. Brown upperparts. Eastern forests.
LEMON DOVE Aplopelia larvata
Whitish face, cinnamon body. Call: soft drawn-out hoot. Eastern forests.
Treron calvus
5 AFRICAN GREEN PIGEON
White eyes. Red bill base. Bright green and yellow plumage. Red feet. Call: liquid bubbling notes, descending in pitch. Riverine forest, wooded bushveld; associated with wild figs. Flocks remain well concealed while climbing around trees, often hanging upside down on branches in search of fruit. Flies off rapidly if disturbed. North and east. Resident.
Columba guinea
6 SPECKLED PIGEON
Bill black. Bare red eye patch. Rufous, white-spotted upper-parts. Legs red. Call: deep cooing “doo-doo-doo”, rising then falling. Mountains, cliffs, cities. Often in flocks, travelling long distances for water or to feed in grain fields. Widespread except northeast and north-central areas. Common resident.
Similar
ROCK DOVE C. livia
Plumage variable, largely grey, blue, black and white.
AFRICAN OLIVE-PIGEON C. arquatrix
Yellow bill, eye-ring and feet. White-speckled plumage.
1 MEYER’S PARROT
Yellow bar on crown. Brown head, breast and upperparts. Green belly. In flight blue-green rump and yellow underwing coverts conspicuous. Call: high-pitched screeching. Small flocks. Woodland. North. Resident.
Similar
BROWNHEADED PARROT P. cryptoxanthus
Brown head. Green body. Bright yellow underwings. Northeast.
RÜPPELL’S PARROT P. rueppellii
Grey head. Female has blue rump and belly.
North-central Namibia.
CAPE PARROT P. robustus
Orange forehead, shoulders, leg feathers. Grey or brown neck.
ROSYFACED LOVEBIRD Agapornis roseicollis
Pink face and throat, bright blue back and rump. Northwest.
Chrysococcyx caprius
2 DIDERICK CUCKOO
Black bill. Red eyes. White marks before and behind eye. Multiple white marks on wings. Female more coppery on upperparts. Immature has red bill. Call: clear “dee-dee-dee-deederik”. Various habitats including suburbia. Widespread. Summer resident.
Similar
KLAAS’S CUCKOO C. klaas
Dark eyes with white mark only behind. Green bill, no white in wing.
AFRICAN EMERALD CUCKOO C. cupreus
Male has yellow belly, green back. Female has bronze barring. Eastern forests.
Clamator jacobinus
3 JACOBIN CUCKOO
Black crest. Dark form: black except for white wing-bar. Pale form: clear white underparts. Call: shrill, far-carrying “kleeuw-kewpkewp-kleeuw ...”. Noisy. Woodland. South and east coast (dark form); northern interior (pale form). Summer resident or visitor.
Similar
LEVAILLANT’S CUCKOO C. levaillantii
Larger (40 cm). Heavy black streaking on throat and breast.
THICKBILLED CUCKOO Pachycoccyx audeberti
Heavy bill. Grey-brown upperparts. White underparts. Northeast.
BLACK CUCKOO Cuculus clamosus
All-black. Lacks crest and white wing-bars.
Clamator glandarius
4 GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO
Long grey crest. White-spotted upperparts. Creamy-white underparts. Long wedge-shaped tail. Call: loud, rapid “keeowkeeow-keeow ...”. Woodland, thornveld. Northern half of region. Summer visitor or resident.
Cuculus solitarius
5 REDCHESTED CUCKOO
Yellow eye-ring. Grey head and upperparts. Broad russet upper breast. Widely spaced barring on underparts. Juvenile lacks russet breast. Call: male calls “Piet-my-vrou”, loud and far-carrying. Woodland, plantations, suburbia. Flight hawk-like. Widespread except arid western areas. Summer resident.
Similar
AFRICAN CUCKOO C. gularis
Conspicuous yellow gape. Barred undertail. Call: “hoop-hoop”.
1 BURCHELL’S COUCAL
Red eyes. Black head and neck. Chestnut back. Creamy white underparts. Fine rufous barring on rump and base of black tail. Call: deep bubbling “doo-doo-doo ...” up to 20 times, descending then ascending. Riverine bush, reedbeds, tall rank grassland, suburbia. Secretive within lower stratum but may perch conspicuously. East coast and highveld interior. Resident.
Similar
WHITEBROWED COUCAL C. superciliosus
White eyebrow, white streaks on crown and mantle.
Along northern border of region.
SENEGAL COUCAL C. senegalensis
Dark rump. Unbarred tail. Zimbabwe, northern Botswana, northeastern Namibia.
BLACK COUCAL C. grillii
Smaller (37 cm). Black head and underparts. Chestnut wings and back. Northeast.
GREEN MALKOHA Ceuthmochares aereus
Smaller (33 cm). Yellow bill. Dull green upperparts, long green tail. Eastern forests.
Asio capensis
2 MARSH OWL
Large dark brown eyes. Rounded buffy facial disc with black rim. Short “ear” tufts. Uniform brown body. Russet wings in flight. Call: harsh “kraak-kraak” in flight. Marshy grassland, vleis. Singly or in pairs, sometimes in loose groups. Most active early morning and late afternoon. Hunts by quartering ground in flight. Often perches on roadside poles. When flushed, circles low before resettling. Widespread except arid west. Resident.
Strix woodfordii
3 AFRICAN WOOD-OWL
Large dark brown eyes. Finely barred white facial disc. No “ear” tufts. Russet-brown back, white spots on wings, heavily barred underparts. Call: rapid “HU-hu, HU-hu-hu, hu-hu” (male), higher-pitched “Hoo” (female). Evergreen and riverine forest, mature woodland, exotic plantations. Usually in pairs. Strictly nocturnal. Roosts in tree during day. Along south and east coast and in northeast. Localised resident.
Tyto alba
4 BARN OWL
Small dark eyes, heart-shaped white facial disc. Pale upperparts and whitish underparts, slim build. Call: eerie screech. Large variety of habitats such as caves, large hollow trees, old buildings. Often in suburbia. Singly or in pairs. Throughout southern Africa. Resident.
Similar
AFRICAN GRASS-OWL T. capensis
Darker upperparts, pale underparts. Moist grassland in east.
Otus senegalensis
5 AFRICAN SCOPS-OWL
Grey face. Yellow eyes. “Ear” tufts. Small owl with grey plumage resembling tree-bark. Call: soft “prrrp”, repeated at intervals. Perches close to tree trunk during the day, using excellent cryptic colouring to create illusion of being part of the tree. Acacia and broadleafed woodland, bushveld. Singly or in pairs. Northern half of region. Resident.
Similar
SOUTHERN WHITE-FACED SCOPS-OWL Ptilopsis granti
Orange eyes, distinct broad black outline to white facial disc, “ear” tufts.
1 PEARL-SPOTTED OWLET
Rounded head, no “ear” tufts. Pair of black spots on nape resemble eyes. Upperparts brown with white spots, underparts white with brown streaks and white spots. Smallest owl in southern Africa. Call: rising whistle “tee-tee-tee-tee-tee-tee”, then descending “teeew, teeew, tew, tew, tew, tew ...”. Woodland, bushveld, riverine forest. Sometimes active during day. Mobbed by other birds. Northern half of region. Resident.
Similar
AFRICAN BARRED OWLET G. capense
Upperparts and tail barred. Underparts have brown spots in rows. Row of large white spots from shoulder along edge of wing.
Bubo lacteus
2 VERREAUX’S EAGLE-OWL
Pink eyelids, dark brown eyes. Pale grey plumage. “Ear” tufts not always raised. Largest owl in southern Africa. Call: series of low grunts “ungh-ugh-ugh, ugh-ugh”, female utters drawn-out whistle. Singly in large trees, deep within canopy. Thornveld, riverine forest, woodland. Central areas and north. Resident.
Bubo africanus
3 SPOTTED EAGLE-OWL
Pale yellow eyes. Grey-brown plumage, lightly blotched breast, fine barring on belly and flanks. Call: “hu-hoo” (male), “hu-huhoo” (female). Wide variety of habitats from bushveld to suburbia. Usually in pairs, commonly seen or heard in gardens. Throughout southern Africa. Resident.
Similar
CAPE EAGLE-OWL B. capensis
Orange eyes. Bold blotching and barring on underparts.
Caprimulgus rufigena
4 RUFOUSCHEEKED NIGHTJAR
Large eyes. Short bill with wide gape. Mottled grey and russet with buff collar. Call: “chwop, chwop, kewook-kewook” or a sustained purring. Insectivorous. Nocturnal. Rests by day on ground under tree. Woodland, thornveld, Kalahari sandveld. Widespread except east coast. Summer resident.
Similar
FIERYNECKED NIGHTJAR C. pectoralis
Rufous around neck. Call: slow, slow, quick, quick, quick, quick (likened to the phrase “Good Lord, deliver us”), descending in pitch. Resident.
EUROPEAN NIGHTJAR C. europaeus
Dark. Roosts lengthwise on horizontal branch. Summer visitor.
SQUARE-TAILED NIGHTJAR C. fossii
Call: engine-like gurgling. Roosts on sandy ground.
Northeast. Resident.
FRECKLED NIGHTJAR C. tristigma
Granite-like freckles overall. Call: “cow-cow”.
Roosts on rocks. Resident.
PENNANTWINGED NIGHTJAR Macrodipteryx vexillarius
Male has long wing pennants. Call: high squeak.
Northeast. Summer resident.
Hirundo cucullata
1 GREATER STRIPED SWALLOW
Rufous crown. White ear coverts. Pale streaked underparts. Rufous rump. Call: soft “chissik” in flight. Glides over open, rocky or urban terrain near water. Perches on trees and telephone wires. Widespread except northeast. Summer resident.
Similar
LESSER STRIPED SWALLOW H. abyssinica
Rufous ear coverts. Heavily streaked underparts.
REDBREASTED SWALLOW H. semirufa
Blue cap and ear coverts. Entirely rufous underparts.
Hirundo atrocaerulea
2 BLUE SWALLOW
Entirely glossy blue-black. Very long tail shafts. Call: wheezy chittering. Singly or in small parties. Nests in holes underground. Rare. Restricted to localised areas of eastern montane grassland, threatened by forest plantations. Endangered summer resident.
Similar
BLACK SAW-WING Psalidoprocne holomelas
Entirely black. Tail shafts shorter. South and east coast and mistbelt hills. Resident.
Hirundo rustica
3 BARN SWALLOW
Dark red forehead and throat. Black breast band. Long tail shafts. Call: soft twittering made by flocks. Mixes with other swallows and swifts. Flocks perch on wires and on roads. Numerous. Throughout southern Africa. Summer visitor.
Similar
WHITETHROATED SWALLOW H. albigularis
Red forehead. Clear white underparts with black breast band. Summer resident.
WIRETAILED SWALLOW H. smithii
Dark orange cap. White underparts with partial breast band. Northeast. Resident.
PEARLBREASTED SWALLOW H. dimidiata
Blue upperparts. White underparts. No tail streamers. Resident.
GREYRUMPED SWALLOW Pseudhirundo griseopyga
Grey-brown cap, pale grey rump. White underparts.
Northeast. Resident.
Delichon urbicum
4 COMMON HOUSE MARTIN
Blue cap and back. White rump. Short, slightly forked tail. White underparts. Short, broad-based wings. Call: single “chirrup”. Often associates with European swallow. Widespread except southwest. Summer visitor.
Similar
SAND MARTIN Riparia riperia
Brown except for white throat and belly.
BROWNTHROATED MARTIN R. paludicola
Entirely brown except for white belly. Resident.
BANDED MARTIN R. cincta
Larger (17 cm). White eyebrow. Brown upperparts.
White underparts, broad brown breast band.
ROCK MARTIN Hirundo fuligula
Dark brown upperparts, light brown underparts. White “windows” in fanned tail. Broad wings. Resident.
Swallows and martins
Broader, rounded wings, bent at shoulder.
Glide frequently between bouts of flapping.
Swallows can perch.
1 AFRICAN PALM-SWIFT
Entirely grey-brown. Slender, long-tailed. In small flocks near palm trees where they roost and nest. Flight rapid. Sometimes associates with other swifts. North. Resident.
Similar
AFRICAN BLACK SWIFT Apus barbatus
Shorter tail. Dark with slightly paler wings.
South and northeast.
COMMON SWIFT A. apus
Uniformly dark, including wings. Mainly north of Orange River. Summer visitor.
BRADFIELD’S SWIFT A. bradfieldi
Greyish underparts and underwings, otherwise black.
Namibia and arid west-central interior.
Apus affinis
2 LITTLE SWIFT
White throat. Dark brown or black plumage. White rump patch wraps around sides. Square tail. Stiff, rounded wings. Call: soft twittering. Mixes with other swifts. Breeds under eaves and bridges. Widespread except most of Botswana. Resident.
Similar
HORUS SWIFT A. horus
White rump patch extends onto sides. Forked tail.
WHITERUMPED SWIFT A. caffer
Narrow white crescent on rump. Deeply forked tail.
Summer resident.
ALPINE SWIFT Tachymarptis melba
Larger (22 cm). White belly and throat. Flies fast. Seen at cliffs.
BÖHM’S SPINETAIL Neafrapus boehmi
Smaller (9 cm). White rump and underparts. Virtually tailless. Mozambique and Zambezi valley.
Urocolius indicus
3 REDFACED MOUSEBIRD
Red facial mask. Buffish head and breast. Pale grey rump. Red feet. Call: descending whistle “shree-ree-ree”. Thornveld, woodland, suburbia. Flight fast and direct, in small compact groups, often calling on the wing. Widespread. Resident.
Similar
SPECKLED MOUSEBIRD Colius striatus
Black-and-white bill. Dull brown plumage. Floppy flight in straggling groups. South and east.
WHITEBACKED MOUSEBIRD C. colius
Whitish bill. Grey upperparts, white back. Buff underparts. South and west.
Swifts
Slender, straight swept-back wings.
Fly rapidly with only brief gliding spells.
Swifts do not perch.
1 LITTLE BEE-EATER
Yellow throat, black collar. Green back. Orange-yellow belly and underwing. Squarish tail. Small. Call: quiet “chip-chip”. Often in pairs on low perch near water. Savanna, thornveld. North and east. Resident.
Similar
SWALLOWTAILED BEE-EATER M. hirundineus
Bright blue collar. Bluish underparts. Forked tail.
BLUECHEEKED BEE-EATER M. persicus
Larger (30 cm). Brown and yellow throat. Turquoise belly.
Merops nubicoides
2 SOUTHERN CARMINE BEE-EATER
Crown deep blue. Carmine plumage with pale blue rump and vent. Call: deep “terk-terk”. Flocks hawk insects from perches or the ground, twittering in flight. Riverine woodland, marshes, bushveld. Breeds colonially in holes in river bank. Northeast. Summer visitor and resident.
Merops apiaster
3 EUROPEAN BEE-EATER
Turquoise-blue forehead. Yellow throat. Golden-brown head and back. Blue underparts. Call: distinctive “quilp”. Open woodland, thornveld, fynbos, even urban parks. Loose flocks hawk insects from trees and telephone wires or while flying at great height. Widespread. Summer visitor.
Similar
WHITEFRONTED BEE-EATER M. bullockoides
White forehead. White and red throat. Lacks long tail feathers.
Coracias caudatus
4 LILACBREASTED ROLLER
White face. Lilac throat and breast. Blue belly, vent and undertail. Brown upperparts. Tail shafts straight, often absent. Shows electric blue wings in flight. Call: harsh rattling. Perches conspicuously in open woodland, thornveld. Display flight involves spectacular aerial tumbling. Northern half of region. Resident.
Similar
EUROPEAN ROLLER C. garrulus
Blue head, breast and underparts. No tail shafts. Summer visitor.
RACKET-TAILED ROLLER C. spatulatus
Blue throat and breast. Spatulate tail shafts. Northeast.
PURPLE ROLLER C. naevius
Red-brown underparts streaked with white. Green upperparts.
BROADBILLED ROLLER Eurystomus glaucurus
Large yellow bill. Purplish underparts. Cinnamon upperparts. Northeast. Summer resident.
1 GIANT KINGFISHER
Large, heavy bill. Black upperparts with white spots. Male has rufous breast; female has rufous belly. Call: harsh “kek-kek-kekkek”. Wooded waters; eats fish. Perches on overhanging branch, occasionally hovers. Widespread except arid west. Resident.
Ceryle rudis
2 PIED KINGFISHER
Entirely black and white. Male has double breast band; female has partial breast band. Call: high-pitched twittering, often by more than one bird. Pairs or small groups at open water bodies. Hovers and dives for fish. Widespread except some central areas and northwest. Resident.
Halcyon senegalensis
3 WOODLAND KINGFISHER
Red and black bill (immature has all-red bill). Black stripe from bill through eye to ear coverts. Pale head. Call: loud, descending “trrp-trrrrrrrr”. Woodland, savanna. Pairs hunt insects from perch. North and northeast. Summer visitor.
Similar
MANGROVE KINGFISHER H. senegaloides
All-red bill. No stripe behind eye. In mangroves and estuaries on east coast. Resident.
GREY-HEADED KINGFISHER H. leucocephala
All-red bill. No stripe behind eye. Chestnut belly.
Halcyon albiventris
4 BROWNHOODED KINGFISHER
Red bill. Streaked brown head. Buff breast patches, streaked flanks. Deep blue back and rump in flight. Male has black wings; female has brown wings. Call: loud “kee-kee-kee”. Bushveld, riverine and coastal woodland. Hunts insects from low perch. South coast to northeast. Resident.
Similar
STRIPED KINGFISHER H. chelicuti
Smaller (18 cm). Black and red bill. Dark, streaked head.
White collar.
Alcedo cristata
5 MALACHITE KINGFISHER
Red bill (immature has black bill). Turquoise crown down to eye. Rufous ear coverts and underparts. Turquoise upperparts. Call: shrill “peep-peep”. Open water bodies with fringing vegetation. Perches on low reeds or branches in search of fish. Eastern half of region and west along Orange and Zambezi rivers. Resident.
Similar
AFRICAN PYGMY-KINGFISHER Ispidina picta
Mauve patch on ear coverts. Turquoise crown ends above eye. Away from water.
HALFCOLLARED KINGFISHER Alcedo semitorquata
Larger (20 cm). Black bill. Blue upperparts and ear coverts. Rufous belly.
1 GREEN WOOD-HOOPOE
Decurved red bill (immature has black bill). Dark glossy blue plumage. White wing-bars. Long tail. Red legs. Call: loud cackles uttered by flock. Woodland, thornveld, suburbia. Flies from tree to tree in small straggling groups. East and north. Resident.
Similar
COMMON SCIMITARBILL P. cyanomelas
Smaller (26 cm). Strongly decurved black bill. Black legs.
Upupa epops
2 AFRICAN HOOPOE
Long, slightly decurved bill. Erects crest when alarmed. Cinnamon plumage. Black-and-white striped wings. Call: continuous “hoop-hoop-hoop”. Bushveld, suburbia. Walks about probing for food. Throughout southern Africa. Resident.
Tockus flavirostris
3 YELLOWBILLED HORNBILL
Large yellow bill. Red bare skin around eyes. Black-and-white plumage. Long tail. Call: “wurk-wurk-wukwukuk, wukwukuk, wurk, wurk ...”, building up then receding. During display calling pairs bow their heads and fan their wings. Dry woodland, mixed bush-veld. Pairs or small groups feed on the ground. North. Resident.
Similar
REDBILLED HORNBILL T. erythrorhynchus
Smallest hornbill (46 cm). All-red bill. Broad white eyebrow.
CROWNED HORNBILL T. alboterminatus
Red bill with casque. Plain dark brown upperparts.
Forests in north and east.
Tockus nasutus
4 AFRICAN GREY HORNBILL
Male has small, greyish bill with casque. Female has smaller casque, upper mandible cream, red tip. Dark head and breast. Upperparts grey, speckled. Call: plaintive notes ascending then descending “phee, phephee, phee, pheeoo, pheeoo ...”. Pairs or small flocks in mixed bushveld. Central areas and north. Resident.
Similar
MONTEIRO’S HORNBILL T. monteiri
Red bill. Much white on wings and tail. Northwestern Namibia.
BRADFIELD’S HORNBILL T. bradfieldi
Orange bill. Brown wings and tail. Northeastern Namibia, northern Botswana into western Zimbabwe.
Bycanistes bucinator
5 TRUMPETER HORNBILL
Large casque on bill. Pink bare skin around eyes. Black throat, breast and upperparts. White belly. Call: loud, nasal “whaa-aaaaa-aaaa”. Sometimes several birds call together. Riverine and lowland forest. Small groups feed in large fruit trees. Extreme east. Resident.
Bucorvus leadbeateri
6 SOUTHERN GROUND-HORNBILL
Large: turkey-sized. Black, decurved bill. Red face and throat pouch. Female has blue central patch on pouch. Plumage and feet all-black. Call: deep, booming “oomph, oomph-oomph”, usually at dawn. Woodland, savanna, bushveld. Largely terrestrial in small family flocks. Walks slowly in search of food. May take flight if disturbed, then broad white wing patches visible. North and east. Resident.
1 BLACKCOLLARED BARBET
Heavy black bill. Bright red forehead, face and throat, bordered by black collar. Yellowish belly. Call: unmistakable duet, starting with a harsh “kerrr-kerr”, then “tooo-puddely, tooo-puddelytooo-puddely ...” accompanied by bobbing and wing-quavering. Woodland, savanna, suburbia. Pairs or small groups. North and east. Resident.
Trachyphonus vaillantii
2 CRESTED BARBET
Yellow face with red scaling. Black crest, broad black collar. Black-and-white scalloped upperparts. Call: trilling “trrrrr ...” by male, female responds “puta-puta-puta-puta”. Woodland, savanna, riverine forest, suburbia. Singly or in pairs. Fruit-eating. Northeast to central areas. Resident.
Pogoniulus chrysoconus
3 YELLOW-FRONTED TINKERBIRD
Yellow or orange forehead (never red). Underparts pale yellow. Call: monotonous, low-pitched “tink, tink, tink” continued for long periods. Woodland, riverine bush, savanna. Attracted to Viscum and Loranthus mistletoe-type parasites. North. Resident.
Similar
RED-FRONTED TINKERBIRD P. pusillus
Bright red forehead. Darker appearance. Along section of east coast.
ACACIA PIED BARBET Tricholaema leucomelas
Larger (17 cm). Black throat. White underparts.
Broad black eye-stripe. Widespread except northeast.
Geocolaptes olivaceus
4 GROUND WOODPECKER
Olive head. Red breast, belly and rump. Male has moustachial stripe. Call: loud, harsh “kee-urrr, kee-urr”. Hilly, boulder-strewn grassland, gullies, mountains. Entirely terrestrial. Often perches on boulders. Singly or in groups. South and into eastern interior. Endemic resident.
Dendropicos fuscescens
5 CARDINAL WOODPECKER
Smallest woodpecker. Black moustachial stripe. Male has brown forehead, red crown. Female has black crown and nape. Streaked breast. Plumage appears dull black and white. Call: high-pitched “kekekekekek”. Broadleafed woodland, thornveld, riverine bush. Pairs often seen in mixed bird parties, gleaning food from trees. Easily overlooked unless calling. Widespread. Resident.
Similar
GOLDENTAILED WOODPECKER Campethera abingoni
Streaked underparts. Male has red moustachial stripe and crown. Female has red nape.
BENNETT’S WOODPECKER C. bennettii
Spotted underparts. Male has red moustachial stripe and crown. Female has brown facial and throat patch.
BEARDED WOODPECKER Dendropicos namaquus
Larger (24 cm). Banded underparts. Both sexes have black moustachial stripe and ear patch.
Jynx ruficollis
6 REDTHROATED WRYNECK
Rust-brown throat and upper breast. Brown-streaked and mottled plumage. Black broken line from crown to mantle. Call: high-pitched “kek-kek-kek-kek”, uttered frequently. Open woodland, grassland, suburbia. Singly or in pairs. Creeps around trees like a woodpecker. Easily overlooked. Along southeast coast and into central interior. Localised resident.
1 GREATER HONEYGUIDE
Male has pinkish bill, dark crown and throat, white ear coverts. Female has dark bill, speckled moustachial stripe. Yellow shoulder patch not always present. White outer tail feathers. Immature has yellow underparts. Call: “vic-torr, vic-torr ...” for long periods. Guides people to bees’ nests, using harsh chattering sound. Woodland, bushveld, suburbia. Eastern half of region. Resident.
Similar
LESSER HONEYGUIDE I. minor
Thick bill with pale patch at base. White outer tail feathers.
SCALYTHROATED HONEYGUIDE I. variegatus
Streaky head. Throat feathers scale-like. East coastal forests.
Mirafra africana
2 RUFOUSNAPED LARK
Rufous head, nape and wing-feather edges. Brownish-grey plumage. Speckled upperparts. Pale underparts, usually with some streaking on breast. Terrestrial. Best recognised by call: mournful, often repeated “tseep-tseeooo”. Flaps wing feathers and raises crest while calling. Open grassland, fallow land, thornveld. Solitary. Often perches on posts, bushes or anthills. Widespread except southwest. Resident.
Similar
SABOTA LARK Calendulauda sabota
White eyebrow distinctive. Short, dark bill, lower half pale.
MONOTONOUS LARK M. passerina
No distinct eyebrow. Call: “corr-weeooo” by male in summer.
FAWNCOLOURED LARK Calendulauda africanoides
Slightly streaked breast on white underparts.
FLAPPET LARK M. rufocinnamomea
In display male flies high with intermittent wing flaps. Northeast.
CAPE CLAPPER LARK M. apiata
In display male flies upwards, hovers and flaps wings, then drops with long whistle.
CAPE LONG-BILLED LARK Certhilauda curvirostris
Long decurved bill. In display male flies high, then drops with loud “cheeeeeeeooo”.
REDCAPPED LARK Calandrella cinerea
Rufous cap. Clear white underparts. Rufous on side of breast.
SPIKEHEELED LARK Chersomanes albofasciata
Upright stance. Long bill. White throat. Short white-tipped tail.
Eremopterix leucotis
3 CHESTNUT-BACKED SPARROWLARK
Male has black crown, white ear coverts, chestnut back and wing coverts, black underparts. Female is mottled brown with black lower belly. Call: sharp “chip-chwep” uttered in flight. Cultivated lands, open grassland, thornveld. Flocks fly low and erratically, suddenly settling on the ground. Central arid savanna, north and east. Resident.
Similar
GREY-BACKED SPARROWLARK E. verticalis
Grey upperparts. Western half of region.
BLACK-EARED SPARROWLARK E. australis
Male has no white plumage. Female no black on belly. South-central areas.
1 AFRICAN PIPIT
Yellow base to lower mandible. Bold facial markings and breast streaks. White outer tail feathers. Call: “chree-chree-chree” in flight with undulating dip. Usually solitary in open, often burned, grassland. If disturbed flies off, resettling close by. Throughout southern Africa. Resident.
Similar
BUFFY PIPIT A. vaalensis
Pink base to bill. Rich, buff-coloured flanks.
LONGBILLED PIPIT A. similis
Buff outer tail feathers. Dull moustachial stripe.
AFRICAN ROCK PIPIT A. crenatus
Drab plumage. Pale eye-stripe. Calls with erect stance. South.
PLAINBACKED PIPIT A. leucophrys
Buff outer tail feathers. Uniform plumage on back.
BUSHVELD PIPIT A. caffer
Off-white throat with faint streaking. Flies erratically before resettling. Northeast.
TREE PIPIT A. trivialis
Short bill. White throat and breast with tear-shaped markings. Mainly Zimbabwe.
STRIPED PIPIT A. lineiventris
Yellow-edged wing feathers. Boldly streaked breast and belly. East.
Macronyx capensis
2 CAPE LONGCLAW
Orange throat encircled with black. Deep yellow underparts. Buff edges to wing feathers. Call: nasal mewing “mee-yi”, also high-pitched whistle. Singly or in pairs in grassland. Usually on the ground, but readily flies to low perches. South and east coast into east-central interior, also northeastern interior. Resident.
Similar
ROSY-THROATED LONGCLAW M. ameliae
Pink throat and breast, black collar. White outer tail feathers.
YELLOWTHROATED LONGCLAW M. croceus
Yellow throat and belly, black collar. Brown upperparts.
Moist grassland.
Motacilla capensis
3 CAPE WAGTAIL
Brown-grey upperparts. Thin black breast band. Buffy belly and flanks. Call: loud, clear “tseep”. At waterside or suburban gardens. Singly or in pairs running along the ground, occasionally wagging its tail. Tame and confiding. Widespread except northeast. Resident.
Motacilla aguimp
4 AFRICAN PIED WAGTAIL
Black upperparts, white wing coverts. White underparts with black breast band. Singly, in pairs or small groups near any water. Northeast and east, plus west along Orange and Zambezi rivers. Resident.
Similar
MOUNTAIN WAGTAIL M. clara
Grey and white. Very long tail. Fast-running streams. Pairs.
Motacilla flava
5 YELLOW WAGTAIL
Yellow underparts. Grey upperparts. Grey or black head. North and along east and south coast. Summer visitor.
1 FORKTAILED DRONGO
Red eyes. All-black plumage. Deeply forked tail with outer feathers curved outwards. Call: variety of twanging and shrill notes; also mimics other birds. Vocal and aggressive. Singly or in pairs. Savanna, bushveld. Widespread except southwest coast and Karoo. Resident.
Similar
SQUARETAILED DRONGO D. ludwigii
Red eyes. Small, rounded head. Tail only slightly forked. Extreme east.
Melaenornis pammelaina
2 SOUTHERN BLACK FLYCATCHER
Brown eyes. Tail slightly indented at tip. Outer tail feathers straight. Mostly quiet. Northeast. Resident.
Campephaga flava
3 BLACK CUCKOOSHRIKE
Male has orange-yellow gape, black plumage; may have yellow shoulder. Female is brownish with barred underparts, brown and yellow wing coverts, bright yellow outer tail feathers. Call: high-pitched trill “trrrrr ...”. Woodland, thornveld, bushveld, coastal bush. Pairs move through trees unobtrusively, often in bird parties. North and along east coast. Resident or summer visitor.
Similar
WHITEBREASTED CUCKOOSHRIKE Coracina pectoralis
Pale grey upperparts. White underparts.
GREY CUCKOOSHRIKE Coracina caesia
All-grey plumage. South coast and east.
Corvus albus
4 PIED CROW
All-black plumage except white breast and collar. Call: loud, harsh cawing. Wide range of habitats, usually in association with human settlement. Scavenges scraps from refuse dumps, highways, fields. Often circles in loose flocks. Widespread except central arid savanna. Resident.
Similar
WHITENECKED RAVEN C. albicollis
Black with white nape only. Large head. Massive black bill.
HOUSE CROW C. splendens
Black with grey nape, mantle and breast. Durban vicinity.
CAPE CROW C. capensis
Entirely glossy black.
Oriolus larvatus
5 BLACKHEADED ORIOLE
Red eyes and bill. Black head. Yellow-green upperparts. Yellow underparts. Call: loud, liquid whistle “pheeoo”; harsh “cheer” alarm call. Broadleafed and riverine woodland, exotic plantations, mixed bushveld. Vocal and conspicuous. Singly or in pairs in canopy. North, northeast and east. Resident.
Similar
EURASIAN GOLDEN ORIOLE O. oriolus
Yellow with black wings. Black stripe in front of eye.
Summer visitor.
AFRICAN GOLDEN ORIOLE O. auratus
All-yellow except for black wing edges and black stripe through and behind eye. Summer resident.
1 SOMBRE GREENBUL
White eyes. Dull olive-green plumage. Call: piercing “Willie!” followed in breeding season by babbling trill. Forests, coastal bush. Singly. Highly vocal but camouflaged within canopy. Eastern areas from north to south. Resident.
Similar
EASTERN NICATOR Nicator gularis
Heavy bill. Bright yellow spots on wings. Northeast.
YELLOW-BELLIED GREENBUL Chlorocichla flaviventris
Reddish eyes. White eyelids. Bright yellow underparts.
North and east.
Pycnonotus tricolor
2 DARK-CAPPED BULBUL
Dark crested head. Yellow vent. Call: “chit, chit, chit ...” in alarm, and several cheerful liquid calls. Bushveld and woodland, including suburbia, but not evergreen forests. Gregarious. North and east. Common resident.
Similar
AFRICAN RED-EYED BULBUL P. nigricans
Red eye wattle. Arid west.
CAPE BULBUL P. capensis
White eye wattle. Brownish head. Endemic to extreme south and southwest.
TERRESTRIAL BROWNBUL Phyllastrephus terrestris
Yellowish gape. White throat. Drab brown plumage.
YELLOW-STREAKED GREENBUL Phyllastrephus flavostriatus
Long bill. Dark eyes. Often flicks open one wing. East.
Parus niger
3 SOUTHERN BLACK TIT
Short stout bill. Black-and-white plumage. Greyish underparts in female. Call: harsh, rasping “twiddy-zeet-zeet-zeet” or “zeuzeu-zeu-twit”. Wooded habitat. Pairs or groups. North and east. Common resident.
Similar
CARP’S TIT P. carpi
Small bill. More white in wing. Northwestern Namibia.
GREY TIT P. afer
Grey-brown mantle and back. Buffy belly. Short tail.
South and northwest.
ASHY TIT P. cinerascens
Blue-grey mantle, back, flanks and belly. Central interior and northwest.
Turdoides jardineii
4 ARROWMARKED BABBLER
Orange eyes. White, arrow-like streaks on underparts. Brown rump. Call: excitable, babbling “scurr-scurr-scurr ...”. Woodland, mixed bushveld. Parties move through trees calling frequently. Northeast. Resident.
Turdoides bicolor
5 SOUTHERN PIED BABBLER
All-white except black wings and tail. Dry thornveld, woodland. Northwest. Resident.
Similar
BARECHEEKED BABBLER T. gymnogenys
Black skin below eye. Sides of neck tawny. Northwestern Namibia.
HARTLAUB’S BABBLER T. hartlaubii
Orange eyes. White rump and vent. White scallops on head and body. Okavango-Zambezi area.
1 GROUNDSCRAPER THRUSH
Black facial markings. Heavily spotted underparts. In flight wings show orange. Call: loud, clear “litsitsirupa”. Dry bushveld, woodland, gardens. Singly, often on bare ground. Calls from trees. Northern half of region. Resident.
Similar
SPOTTED GROUND-THRUSH Zoothera guttata
Looks like previous species but has white wing spots.
Some east coast forests.
DUSKY LARK Pinarocorys nigricans
Darker facial markings and back. Summer visitor.
Turdus olivaceus
2 OLIVE THRUSH
Yellow bill. Speckled throat. Olive-orange underparts. Call: thin “wheet” or “wheet-troo-wheet-wheetrroo ...”. Woodland, suburbia. Singly or in pairs. Male displays with drooped wings and dragging tail. Southern half of region. Resident.
Similar
KURRICHANE THRUSH T. libonyanus
Orange bill and eye-ring. Black-and-white throat markings. Northeast.
Monticola rupestris
3 CAPE ROCK THRUSH
Male has blue-grey head and neck. Female has brown streaked head. Rich orange underparts. Call: soft “checheroo” followed by loud, repeated whistling “cheewoo-chirri-cheewootiriri”. Pairs frequent rocky terrain and bush-covered slopes. South. Endemic resident.
Similar
SHORT-TOED ROCK THRUSH M. brevipes
Male has whitish-blue crown. Arid west.
SENTINEL ROCK THRUSH M. explorator
Male’s blue-grey head extends onto mantle and breast.
Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris
4 MOCKING CLIFF-CHAT
Black upper body. Chestnut belly, vent and rump. Male has white shoulder stripe. Call: melodious sounds, largely imitating other birds. Pairs in rocky habitats. Frequently raises rear of body. East. Resident.
Similar
CAPE ROCKJUMPER Chaetops frenatus
Male has black-and-white head, rufous underparts. Extreme south.
DRAKENSBERG ROCK-JUMPER C. aurantius
Male has orange-yellow underparts. Southern Drakensberg.
Oenanthe monticola
5 MOUNTAIN WHEATEAR
Male is pale grey or black with grey cap. Female is blackish-brown. White rump, shoulder and outer tail feathers. Call: clear warbling notes, early and late in day. Grassy slopes with rocks or anthills. Flies short distance before perching on rock. Widespread except east and northeast. Resident.
Similar
ARNOT’S CHAT Myrmecocichla arnoti
Male has white cap, black rump and tail. Female has white throat. North.
1 CAPPED WHEATEAR
Black cap. White forehead and eyebrow. Broad black breast collar. Buff flanks. Short tail. Long legs. Call: melodious whistles. Open or burnt ground. Nests in burrow. Widespread except extreme east. Summer resident, depending on food supply.
Similar
BUFFSTREAKED CHAT O. bifasciata
Male has black face, breast and wings, buffy belly.
Saxicola torquatus
2 AFRICAN STONECHAT
Male has black head and back, white on neck, wings and rump, chestnut breast. Female is dull with white wing patches. Call: grating “tsak, tsak”. Grassy hillsides. In pairs. Usually perches prominently. Eastern half of region. Resident.
Cercomela familiaris
3 FAMILIAR CHAT
Drab grey-brown. Rump and outer tail feathers dark rufous. Call: “chuck, chuck” in alarm. Rocky hillsides, farms. Tame and confiding. Usually perches prominently. Often flicks wings. Widespread except Mozambique and northern Botswana. Resident.
Similar
SICKLEWINGED CHAT C. sinuata
Pale underparts contrast with darker upperparts.
KAROO CHAT C. schlegelii
Pale grey plumage. Grey rump. White outer tail feathers.
ANTEATING CHAT Myrmecocichla formicivora
Dark brown. Conspicuous white underwings. Upright stance.
Cossypha caffra
4 CAPE ROBIN-CHAT
White eyebrow stripe. Orange upper breast, tail and back. Pale grey underparts. Call: melodious variation of four notes. Forest edges, bushveld, scrub, gardens. Usually near ground, close to cover. Southern half of region. Resident.
Similar
WHITE-BROWED ROBIN-CHAT C. heuglini
Bold white eyebrow stripe. Deep orange underparts. Northeast.
WHITE-THROATED ROBIN-CHAT C. humeralis
White throat, breast and wing-bar.
CHORISTER ROBIN-CHAT C. dichroa
No eyebrow. Orange-yellow underparts, including throat. Eastern forests.
WHITE-STARRED ROBIN Pogonocichla stellata
No eyebrow. Grey head and throat. White spot on forehead. Yellow underparts. Eastern forests.
RED-CAPPED ROBIN-CHAT Cossypha natalensis
No eyebrow. Entirely orange except grey cap and back.
Forests in east and northeast.
Cercotrichas leucophrys
5 WHITE-BROWED SCRUB-ROBIN
White eyebrow. White wing-bars and tail tip. Brownish plumage. Streaked breast. Call: repetitive, whistling tune. Bushveld, woodland thickets. Secretive but may call from exposed perch. North and along southeast coast. Resident.
Similar
KALAHARI SCRUB-ROBIN C. paena
White eyebrow. Sandy brown. Plain breast. Tail has broad black band.
1 WILLOW WARBLER
Creamy-white eyebrow. Pale yellow throat and breast. Olive upperparts. Scalloped tail tip. (Sometimes entirely brown upper-parts and white underparts.) Call: soft “foo-eet”. Woodland, thornveld. Singly, often in bird parties. Active leaf-gleaner. Widespread except extreme west. Summer visitor.
Similar
ICTERINE WARBLER Hippolais icterina
Lower mandible orange. More yellow on wings.
DARK-CAPPED YELLOW WARBLER Chloropeta natalensis
All-yellow underparts. Eastern thickets and reeds. Resident.
YELLOW-THROATED WOODLAND WARBLER P. ruficapilla
Yellow throat and breast. Whitish belly. Southern and eastern forests. Resident.
Apalis thoracica
2 BARTHROATED APALIS
Pale eyes. Dark upperparts. Pale underparts. Black throat band (sometimes lacking in female). White outer tail feathers. Call: distinctive “tilly-tilly-tilly”. Woodland, forest. Pairs, often in bird parties. South and east. Resident.
Similar
YELLOWBREASTED APALIS A. flavida
Grey head. White throat. Yellow breast. White belly.
North and east.
BURNTNECKED EREMOMELA Eremomela usticollis
Brown around eyes. Brown throat-bar (sometimes absent). Yellow underparts. North.
RUFOUSEARED WARBLER Malcorus pectoralis
Black bar on white underparts. Rufous face. Arid west.
Eremomela icteropygialis
3 YELLOWBELLIED EREMOMELA
Greyish-white throat and breast. Yellow belly and flanks. Upper-parts grey. Call: high-pitched “chirri-chee-chee-choo”. Pairs feed in low scrub, open woodland. Often in bird parties. Widespread except south and east. Resident.
Similar
GREENCAPPED EREMOMELA E. scotops
Green crown. Yellow throat and breast. Pale yellow belly. Northeast.
Sylvietta rufescens
4 LONGBILLED CROMBEC
Long bill. Brown-grey upperparts. Buff underparts. Tailless appearance. Call: “tree-treer, tree-treer ...”. Bushveld, arid fynbos. Usually occurs in pairs in mixed bird parties, gleaning insects from twigs. Widespread. Resident.
Similar
REDFACED CROMBEC S. whytii
Shorter bill. Rufous face. Northeast.
Parisoma subcaeruleum
5 CHESTNUT-VENTED TIT-BABBLER
Pale yellow eyes. Dark grey upperparts. Extensive streaking on throat. Chestnut vent. Call: clear, ringing notes “cheriktiktik” or “chu-ti chuu-ti chuu-chuu”. Mixed bushveld, woodland. Forages in dense thickets but shows itself freely. Widespread except east. Resident.
Similar
LAYARD’S TIT-BABBLER P. layardi
White vent. Karoo extending northwards into Namibia.
1 CAPE PENDULINE TIT
Mottled black forehead. Yellow underparts. Tiny body. Short tail. Call: soft “swee-swee-swee”. Thornveld, arid scrub, fynbos. Small groups feed in trees, calling and flitting from one tree to next. Western half of region. Resident.
Similar
AFRICAN PENDULINE TIT A. caroli
Buff face and forehead. Grey throat and breast. Buff belly. Northeast.
Acrocephalus baeticatus
2 AFRICAN REED-WARBLER
No distinctive eyebrow. Brown upperparts. Whitish underparts. Sharp face. Call: slow, uninterrupted “chuck-chuck-wee-chirrucchurr-weee-weee-chirruc”. Singly or in pairs, moving through reeds and tall grass. Throughout southern Africa. Summer resident.
Similar
MARSH WARBLER A. palustris
Underparts buffy. Bush, riverine thickets, hillside briers.
LESSER SWAMP-WARBLER A. gracilirostris
White eyebrow. Pale face and chest. Always near water.
Bold. Resident.
LITTLE RUSH-WARBLER Bradypterus baboecala
Eye-stripe. Faint markings on breast. Broad rounded tail. Eastern half of region. Resident.
GREAT REED WARBLER Acrocephalus aruninaceus
Robust. Heavy movements. Call: slow, harsh warble.
BROADTAILED WARBLER Schoenicola brevirostris
Broad black tail. Sits vertically on reeds. Resident.
GARDEN WARBLER Sylvia borin
Rounded head. Plain brown plumage.
Camaroptera brachyura
3 GREEN-BACKED CAMAROPTERA
Upperparts dark olive-green. Alarm call: plaintive “bleeb”; territorial call: “chirrup, chirrup, chirrup”. Secretive in low dense growth. Cocks its tail. Eastern evergreen forests. Resident.
Similar
GREY-BACKED CAMAROPTERA C. brevicaudata
Grey or dusty-brown upperparts. Dry savanna in north.
KAROO EREMOMELA Eremomela gregalis
Pale yellow eyes. Yellow vent. Karoo into Namibia.
Calamonastes fasciolata
4 BARRED WREN-WARBLER
Brown cap and back. Brown bars on buff underparts. Call: three to five mournful “brreeet-brreeet-brreeet” sounds, continued for long periods. Pairs feed low in thickets. North-central areas. Resident.
Similar
STIERLING’S WREN-WARBLER C. stierlingi
White underparts, boldly barred. Notheast.
CINNAMONBREASTED WARBLER Euryptila subcinnamomea
Cinnamon forehead and breast. Black tail.
Karoo into Namibia.
Sphenoeacus afer
5 CAPE GRASSBIRD
Rufous cap. Black facial stripes. Long straggly tail. Heavily streaked underparts, boldly marked upperparts. Call: jangled musical song. Rank grassland, fynbos. South and east. Resident.
1 ZITTING CISTICOLA
Dark streaks on crown and upperparts, paler below. Tail boldly marked, black above and below, with broad white tip. Call: “tink, tink, tink ...” by male in summer, flying at a height of 30-40 m, each note accompanied by dip in flight. Grassveld areas. Widespread except arid west. Resident.
Similar (all nearly identical in appearance)
DESERT CISTICOLA C. aridulus
Male flies low, calling “zink, zink, zink ...” and snapping wings.
CLOUD CISTICOLA C. textrix
Male flies high out of sight, calling “see-see-seesee-chick-chick”. South and east.
WING-SNAPPING CISTICOLA C. ayresii
Calls like cloud cisticola but with rapid diving and wing snapping. East.
Cisticola fulvicapillus
2 NEDDICKY
Rufous cap. Plain brown back, blue-grey underparts (south and east) or buffy underparts (north). Call: continuous “chirri-chirrichirri ...”. Alarm call is a rapid ticking. Pairs or parties in montane or wooded grassland in eastern half of region. Resident.
Similar
GREYBACKED CISTICOLA C. subruficapillus
Grey back with black streaks. Scrub in south and west.
RUFOUS-WINGED CISTICOLA C. galactotes
Boldly streaked back. Reedbeds on east coast and in Okavango.
LEVAILLANT’S CISTICOLA C. tinniens
Streaked back. Waterside reeds in temperate south and east.
RATTLING CISTICOLA C. chiniana
Shows black gape when singing. Thornveld in north.
TINKLING CISTICOLA C. rufilatus
Reddish crown and ear patch. Dry scrub in north-central areas.
WAILING CISTICOLA C. lais
Crown well marked. Belly buff. Hillsides in south and east.
LAZY CISTICOLA C. aberrans
Like Neddicky but often cocks tail. Hillsides in east.
REDFACED CISTICOLA C. erythrops
Uniform plumage. Waterside vegetation in northeast.
CROAKING CISTICOLA C. natalensis
Thick bill. Grey crown. Heavy-bodied. Grassland in northeast.
Terpsiphone viridis
3 AFRICAN PARADISE-FLYCATCHER
Eye-ring and bill blue. Dark head and throat. Chestnut back and tail. Call: lively “twee-tiddly-twer-twer”; alarm a sharp “zweezwer”. Riverine bush, forest edges, gardens. Widespread except some areas in west. Summer resident (all year at coast).
Trochocercus cyanomelas
4 BLUE-MANTLED CRESTED-FLYCATCHER
Black head, slightly crested. Dark grey upperparts. White under-parts. White wing-bar. Call: high-pitched “kwew-ew-ew-ew”; alarm call same as paradise flycatcher. Pairs active in mid- and upper strata of coastal forest. South and east. Resident.
Similar
BLACK-THROATED WATTLE-EYE Platysteira peltata
Red eye wattles. No wing-bar. East.
1 TAWNYFLANKED PRINIA
Clear white underparts. Buff flanks. Rufous wing-edges. Long tail, often cocked. Call: rapidly repeated “trink-trink-trink”, or plaintive “sbeee-sbeee”. Rank grass, gardens. Pairs or small parties. North and east. Resident.
Similar
BLACKCHESTED PRINIA P. flavicans
Black breast band in breeding season or yellow underparts.
KAROO PRINIA P. maculosa and
DRAKENSBERG PRINIA P. hypoxantha
Heavily streaked cream or pale yellow breast.
NAMAQUA WARBLER Phragmacia substriata
Faint streaks on breast. Rufous upperparts, flanks and vent. South.
Muscicapa adusta
2 AFRICAN DUSKY FLYCATCHER
Slight streaking on crown. Olive-brown upperparts. Underparts dull white with faint streaks. Call: sibilant “tzeeet”. Forest edges. Singly or in pairs, perched quietly hawking prey. Along southern and eastern coast and escarpment. Resident.
Similar
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER M. striata
Streaked crown. Larger and slimmer than dusky flycatcher. Widespread. Summer visitor.
MARICO FLYCATCHER Bradornis mariquensis
Larger (18 cm). Brown upperparts contrast with white underparts. North.
CHAT FLYCATCHER Bradornis infuscatus
Larger (20 cm). All-brown. Pale wing-edges. Western half of region.
ASHY FLYCATCHER Muscicapa caerulescens
Upperparts blue-grey, underparts lighter grey. Northeast.
GREY TIT-FLYCATCHER Myioparus plumbeus
Pale grey. Fans tail with white outer feathers. Northeast.
Stenostira scita
3 FAIRY FLYCATCHER
White eyebrow. Grey and black. Conspicuous white wing-bar and outer tail feathers. Call: sibilant trill “kisskisskisskiss”. Flits about in bushes. Frequently bobs tail. Central areas: near rivers to the south in summer, moving northwards to woodland in winter. Resident and winter visitor.
Batis molitor
4 CHINSPOT BATIS
Yellow eyes. Black face mask. Grey above. White wing-bar. Male has black breast band. Female has rufous breast band and chin-spot. Call: two or three descending notes “teuu-tuuu-tuuu”. Woodland, savanna. Pairs or groups in well-defined territory. East and north. Resident.
Similar
CAPE BATIS B. capensis
Rufous on flanks of both sexes. Southern and eastern forests.
PRIRIT BATIS B. pririt
Female has buff throat and breast. Western half of region.
PALE BATIS B. soror
Markings less distinct than in Chinspot Batis. Mozambique.
1 MAGPIE SHRIKE
Black with white wing-bar and wing tips. Long black tail. Call: whistled “prooit-preooo”, first note descending, latter ascending. Acacia thornveld. Small groups, perching conspicuously. Takes prey from ground. North-central savanna. Resident.
Lanius collaris
2 COMMON FISCAL
Black upperparts. White bar across shoulders. White underparts. Western races have white eyebrow. Female has rufous flanks. Call: harsh “gercha, gercha”. Variety of habitats except forest. Perches prominently, flying down to catch prey. Territorial. Impales prey on thorns. Widespread except northeast. Resident.
Similar
FISCAL FLYCATCHER Sigelus silens
White bar on wings, not shoulders. White windows in tail.
Eurocephalus anguitimens
3 SOUTHERN WHITE-CROWNED SHRIKE
White crown and forehead. Dark eyes. Black mask. Throat and breast white. Belly buff. Call: shrill “kwee-kwee-kwee”. Thornveld, mixed woodland. Usually in small groups, maintaining contact by loud calling. Hunts from prominent perch. North-central areas. Endemic resident.
Similar
WHITE-CRESTED HELMET-SHRIKE Prionops plumatus
Yellow eye-ring. Grey crown. Black-and-white wings. In groups.
LESSER GREY SHRIKE Lanius minor
Grey crown and back. Black forehead and mask.
Solitary. Summer visitor.
REDBACKED SHRIKE L. collurio
Male has grey crown. Chestnut back. Black face mask.
Solitary. Summer visitor.
Dryoscopus cubla
4 BLACK-BACKED PUFFBACK
Red eyes. Pied plumage. Distinctive wing-bar. Male puffs up white rump in display. Female has white forehead and eyebrow. Call: sharp “chick-weeu, chick-weeu”. Woodland, forest. Pairs, often in mixed bird parties. Forages in canopy. Noisy, purring flight. North and east. Resident.
Similar
BRUBRU Nilaus afer
Dark eyes. Rich rufous flanks. Thick bill.
WHITETAILED SHRIKE Lanioturdus torquatus
Grey back and lower breast. Short white tail. Long legs. Northwestern Namibia.
Laniarius ferrugineus
5 SOUTHERN BOUBOU
Black upperparts. White bar across shoulders and wings. Rufous belly and vent. Call: duet, “ko-ko” replied to with “kweet” and wide variety of other sounds. Thickets, forest edges. Pairs move secretively near ground in tangled undergrowth. South and east. Resident.
Similar
SWAMP BOUBOU L. bicolor
All-white underparts. Zambezi, Chobe and Okavango rivers.
TROPICAL BOUBOU L. aethiopicus
Underparts lightly washed pink. Northeast.
Laniarius atrococcineus
6 CRIMSONBREASTED SHRIKE
Like other boubous but with striking scarlet underparts. Arid northwestern and central areas. Resident.
1 BLACKCROWNED TCHAGRA
Black crown. Broad white eyebrow. Pale back. Chestnut wings. Shows white outer tail feathers in flight. Call: “CHEER-tcharee, trichi, cheeroo, cheeroo”. Singly in lower strata of woodland, thornveld. North and east. Resident.
Similar
BROWN-CROWNED TCHAGRA T. australis
Pale grey-brown crown. Frequently on ground.
SOUTHERN TCHAGRA T. tchagra
Reddish-brown crown. Olive-brown back.
South and east coast.
Telophorus sulfureopectus
2 ORANGEBREASTED BUSH SHRIKE
Blue-grey crown. Yellow forehead and eyebrow. Yellow under-parts. Orange breast. Call: “po-po-po-poooo” or “pipit-eeez”. Usually in pairs. Riverine thornveld, often in lower and mid-strata. Not secretive. North and east. Resident.
Similar
OLIVE BUSH SHRIKE T. olivaceus
Russet breast with blue-grey crown and white eyebrow, or green crown with yellowish breast and no white eyebrow. Southern and eastern forests.
BLACKFRONTED BUSH SHRIKE T. nigrifrons
No yellow eyebrow. Orange underparts. Mountains in northeast.
GORGEOUS BUSH SHRIKE T. viridis
Scarlet throat. Eastern forests and coastal bush.
Telophorus zeylonus
3 BOKMAKIERIE
Grey and green upperparts. Bright yellow underparts with broad black breast band. Call: duet, “bok-bok-chit” and variations. Pairs in bush, grassland, rocky hillsides. Widespread except north and east. Resident.
Malaconotus blanchoti
4 GREYHEADED BUSH SHRIKE
Heavy, hooked bill. White patch in front of yellow eye. Yellow-orange underparts. Call: haunting, drawn-out whistle “hoooooooop”. Riverine woodland, bushveld. Singly or in pairs, feeding in midand lower strata. Not secretive but prefers cover. East coast and northeast. Resident.
Prionops retzii
5 RETZ’S HELMET-SHRIKE
Red bill, eye-ring and legs. Black plumage with white vent and tail tips. Call: harsh “cherow”, often in chorus. Parties in mid- and lower strata of woodland and mature riverine forest. Northeast. Resident.
Acridotheres tristis
6 COMMON MYNA
Yellow bill and skin around eye. Glossy black and brown plumage. White wing patches conspicuous in flight. Yellow legs. Call: varied, discordant chattering. Urban habitats. Roosts in large flocks or in pairs. Struts and forages on lawns. Aggressive when nesting. Introduced. East coast into interior. Resident.
1 COMMON STARLING
Bill yellow when breeding. Blackish plumage with purple-green sheen and pale speckling. Call: harsh “cherr”. Flocks in suburbia, playing fields, farmland. Walks rapidly with jerking action. Probes ground for food. Introduced. South. Resident.
Onychognathus morio
2 RED-WINGED STARLING
Dark eyes. Blue-black plumage. Female has grey head. Bright red-brown flight feathers. Call: loud whistle “spreeooo”. Roosts on cliffs but flocks disperse widely. Perches conspicuously. South, east and northeast. Resident.
Similar
PALE-WINGED STARLING O. nabouroup
Orange eyes. Whitish flight feathers. West.
PIED STARLING Spreo bicolor
Pale yellow eyes. Orange gape. Brown plumage.
White vent. Southern and central areas.
Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
3 VIOLET-BACKED STARLING
Male has glossy violet upperparts, head and throat; white under-parts. Female mottled brown above, brown streaks on white below, with yellow gape. Call: short slurred whistles. Woodland, riverine forest. In pairs or flocks. North and east. Summer resident.
Creatophora cinerea
4 WATTLED STARLING
Pale grey. Breeding male has yellow and black skin and wattles on head. Non-breeding male and female drab. Black wings. White rump visible in flight. Call: rasping squeak. Gregarious flocks in grassland. Nests colonially in bushes. Throughout southern Africa. Nomadic resident.
Lamprotornis nitens
5 CAPE GLOSSY STARLING
Yellow eyes. Uniform blue-green ear patch. Head and underparts uniform blue-green. Call: harsh “trrr-tree-cherr”. Upright stance. Pairs or flocks in thornveld, woodland, suburbia. Bold. Omnivorous. Widespread except extreme south. Resident.
Similar
BLACK-BELLIED STARLING L. corruscus
Glossy blue-black. Black belly and flanks.
Eastern coastal forests.
GREATER BLUE-EARED STARLING L. chalybaeus
Black ear patch. Royal blue belly and flanks. Northeast.
MEVE’S STARLING L. mevesii
Dark eyes. Long pointed tail. Limpopo-Cunene-Zambezi area.
BURCHELL’S STARLING L. australis
Dark eyes. Black ear patch. Long square tail.
North-central areas.
Buphagus erythrorhynchus
6 REDBILLED OXPECKER
All-red bill. Large yellow eye wattle. Dark rump. Call: rasping “churrrr” in flight. Savanna, especially game reserves. Family groups associate with game, feeding on ticks. Roosts communally. North and east. Resident.
Similar
YELLOWBILLED OXPECKER B. africanus
Yellow bill with red tip. Pale rump.
1 CAPE SUGARBIRD
Distinct moustachial stripe. Pale rufous breast. Male has very long, wispy tail, female’s tail shorter. Call: jangled, metallic notes. Visits proteas on coastal mountains and flats. Male calls from prominent perch and displays over territory. Extreme south. Endemic resident.
Similar
GURNEY’S SUGARBIRD P. gurneyi
Bold rufous breast and cap. Eastern escarpment.
Nectarinia famosa
2 MALACHITE SUNBIRD
Male has long tail. Breeding male is iridescent green with yellow pectoral tufts. Female has short tail, brown back, pale yellow underparts. Call: loud “sseep”. Slopes with proteas and aloes, scrub. Temperate south and interior. Resident.
Anthobaphes violacea
3 ORANGEBREASTED SUNBIRD
Male has metallic green head, purple breast band, orange underparts, long central tail feathers. Female is olive-green. Call: metallic “shink-shink”. Open fynbos. Male perches conspicuously. Extreme south. Endemic resident.
Cinnyris chalybeus
4 SOUTHERN DOUBLE-COLLARED SUNBIRD
Male has metallic green head, blue and red breast band, grey belly, blue rump. Female is dull grey. Call: abrupt “zwik-zwik”. Forest, coastal scrub, fynbos, gardens. May become quite confiding. Southwest and east. Resident.
Similar
GREATER DOUBLE-COLLARED SUNBIRD C. afer
Wider breast band; red extends to belly. Longer bill.
MIOMBO DOUBLE-COLLARED SUNBIRD C. manoensis
Almost identical to Lesser Doublecollared Sunbird. Zimbabwe.
MARICO SUNBIRD C. mariquensis
Purple breast band. Black belly. Sharply decurved bill.
North and west.
PURPLEBANDED SUNBIRD C. bifasciatus
Purple breast band. Black belly. Short, only slightly decurved bill. Northeast.
Cinnyris talatala
5 WHITEBELLIED SUNBIRD
Male has blue-green head, neck and breast, white underparts. Female has olive-brown upperparts, off-white underparts. Call: loud “chu-ee, chu-ee, chuee-trrrrr”. Dry open bushveld, suburbia. Male calls from conspicuous perch. North and east. Resident.
Similar
COLLARED SUNBIRD Hedydipna collaris
Rich yellow underparts. Short bill. East and northeast.
Chalcomitra amethystina
6 AMETHYST SUNBIRD
Male is black with green iridescence on head, metallic purple on throat. Female is brown above, cream below, with yellow moustachial streak. Call: fast “tshiek”, often in flight. Woodland, forest edges, bush, suburbia. Conspicuous. South, east and north. Resident.
Similar
SCARLETCHESTED SUNBIRD C. senegalensis
Male is black with large scarlet breast patch.
1 CAPE WHITE-EYE
White eye-ring. Olive-green upperparts. Underparts greyish (southwest) or greenish-yellow (northeast) or pale with cinnamon flanks (arid west). Call: soft “twee”. Thick bush, gardens. Parties move through bush gleaning food. Throughout South Africa and most of Namibia. Resident.
Similar
AFRICAN YELLOW WHITE-EYE Z. senegalensis
Bright yellow underparts. North and east of South African border.
Passer melanurus
2 CAPE SPARROW
Male has black crown and face joining wide black breast-bar. Female has grey head. Black bill. Chestnut back. Call: musical “chirrup”. Dry grassland, scrub, associated with human habitation. Flocks in non-breeding season, otherwise in pairs. Tame and confiding. Widespread except northeast. Resident.
Similar
HOUSE SPARROW P. domesticus
Male has grey cap, black bib; female pale bill and plumage. Around human habitation.
GREAT SPARROW P. motitensis
Oval black breast patch. Chestnut sides of head.
GREYHEADED SPARROW P. griseus
Entirely grey head. Dark bill. Single white wing-bar.
YELLOW-THROATED PETRONIA Petronia superciliaris
Broad white eyebrow. Yellow throat-spot not always clear.
Bubalornis niger
3 REDBILLED BUFFALO WEAVER
Male has large red bill, black plumage, white wing patches. Female is browner. Call: mellow trill. Dry open bushveld. Noisy flocks forage under trees. Large untidy nests in large trees. North. Resident.
Plocepasser mahali
4 WHITEBROWED SPARROW-WEAVER
Broad white eyebrow. White underparts. White rump. Short tail. Plump. Call: harsh “chik-chik”. Dry thornveld. Pairs or loose flocks. Untidy straw nests in trees or on poles. Central areas and west. Resident.
Philetairus socius
5 SOCIABLE WEAVER
Pale bill. Black face and chin. Brown cap. Scaly back, black-barred flanks. Call: excitable twittering at nest. Open dry acacia thornveld. Flocks feed on ground near massive communal nests. Western semi-desert. Endemic resident.
Similar
SCALYFEATHERED FINCH Sporopipes squamifrons
Pink bill. Scaly forehead. Black moustachial stripe. White-edged wing feathers. More widespread.
Quelea quelea
6 REDBILLED QUELEA
Breeding male has red bill, with black mask surrounded by pink, yellow or buff wash, red legs. Breeding female has yellow bill. Non-breeding birds have red bill and plain plumage. Call: chittering when flying and nesting. Flocks may number tens of thousands where food is abundant. Flies in tight formation. Colonies are heavily preyed upon by raptors. Nomadic when not breeding. Widespread except south and extreme west. Resident.
1 SOUTHERN MASKED WEAVER
Breeding male has red eyes, black forehead and mask extending to a point on throat and surrounded by chestnut wash; plain olive-green back. Female and non-breeding male lack mask; olive above, pale yellow below, whitish chin. Call: prolonged sizzling when breeding. Open savanna, thornveld, suburbia. Nests in colonies in trees, often over water. Nomadic when not breeding. Widespread except extreme southeast. Resident.
Similar
LESSER MASKED WEAVER P. intermedius
Yellow eyes. Mask extends onto crown. North.
VILLAGE WEAVER P. cucullatus
Back spotted black and yellow. No black above bill (South African race) or head entirely black (northern race). North and east.
Ploceus capensis
2 CAPE WEAVER
Heavy bill. Breeding male has pale eyes, orange wash over face, black line from bill to eye not extending behind eye. Female and non-breeding male paler. Call: rapidly repeated swizzling, harsher than masked weaver. Singly, in pairs or small flocks among trees, usually near water. Nests in small colonies. Southwest, south and east. Resident.
Similar
YELLOW WEAVER P. subaureus
Red eyes. East coast.
SPECTACLED WEAVER P. ocularis
Pale eyes. Black line through and behind eye. Male has black bib. East and north.
SOUTHERN BROWN-THROATED WEAVER P. xanthopterus
Brown eyes. Male has brown bib, black bill. Female has pale bill. East and north.
GOLDEN WEAVER P. xanthops
Yellow eyes. Yellow with no distinct markings.
Heavy black bill. East and north.
Ploceus bicolor
3 DARK-BACKED WEAVER
Black or brown upperparts. Bright yellow underparts. Call: high-pitched series of varied notes “fo-fo-fo-fwee ...”. Riverine, coastal, evergreen forests. In pairs. Quietly clambers about foliage, probing beneath bark for insects. Calls throughout year. Restricted to eastern forests and coast. Localised resident.
Amblyospiza albifrons
4 THICKBILLED WEAVER
Massive bill. Dark plumage. Male has white forecrown and wing patch. Female has streaked underparts. Call: monotonous twittering. Reedbeds, forest fringes. Pairs and small parties. Roosts communally in reedbeds. Eastern areas and northern Botswana. Resident.
Anaplectes melanotis
5 REDHEADED WEAVER
Breeding male has bright red head, breast and mantle. Female and non-breeding male have lemon-yellow head. Orange-red bill. White underparts. Call: chattering at nest. Bushveld. North. Resident.
Euplectes orix
6 SOUTHERN RED BISHOP
Breeding male has striking red and black plumage. Female and non-breeding male are dull, streaked brown. Call: male hisses and wheezes while puffing plumage. Large flocks congregate in reedbeds. Widespread except dry central areas. Resident.
See illustrations of weaver nests on p. 163.
1 LONGTAILED WIDOWBIRD
Breeding male has pale bill, red shoulder patch bordered by whitish stripe and full, long black tail. Female and non-breeding male are mottled brown; male retains red wing pattern. Call: swizzling song. Grassland, especially in moist areas. Breeding male flies just above grass with slow, deliberate wing beats. Non-breeding birds form flocks. Temperate east-central areas. Resident.
Similar
RED-COLLARED WIDOWBIRD E. ardens
Breeding male has red throat, all-black wings, long wispy tail.
FAN-TAILED WIDOWBIRD E. axillaris
Breeding male has red shoulders, short tail.
Euplectes albonotatus
2 WHITE-WINGED WIDOWBIRD
Breeding male has yellow shoulder, white wings, rest of plumage black, broad tail. Female and non-breeding male mottled grey-brown. Call: twittering while fanning tail. Marshes and damp areas in otherwise dry bushveld. East and northeast. Resident.
Similar
YELLOW BISHOP E. capensis
Breeding male has yellow rump and shoulder. Puffs rump in display. South, east and northeast.
YELLOW-CROWNED BISHOP E. afer
Breeding male has yellow head and back. Puffs plumage in display.
Pytilia melba
3 GREEN-WINGED PYTILIA
Male has red bill, crimson face and throat, black-and-white barred underparts, green wings. Female has grey head and barred grey breast. Call: single low “wick”. Thorn thickets, dry stream beds, often near water. Mixes with other small birds. Feeds on open ground. Northern half of region. Resident.
Similar
AFRICAN QUAILFINCH Ortygospiza atricollis
White throat, white lines around eye. Barred breast and flanks. Grey above.
ORANGEBREASTED WAXBILL Sporaeginthus subflavus
Orange bill. Barred yellow flanks. Orange rump.
Lagonosticta rhodopareia
4 JAMESON’S FIREFINCH
Blackish bill. Upperparts reddish-pink. Underparts rose-pink (male) or orange-pink (female). Call: tinkling trill, followed by “zikzik-zik”. Thornveld, thickets, rank grass. Pairs feed on ground, retreating to cover when disturbed. In parties when not breeding. North and northeast. Resident.
Similar
AFRICAN FIREFINCH L. rubricata
Black bill. Grey crown and nape. Male has black belly. East.
REDBILLED FIREFINCH L. senegala
Reddish bill. Yellow eye-ring. Female grey.
Uraeginthus angolensis
5 BLUE WAXBILL
Blue face, breast and tail. Female paler than male. Call: high-pitched “weet-weet”. Dry thornveld, mixed woodland. Confiding. Pairs or small groups feed largely on ground, flying up when disturbed. Often with other small birds. North and northeast. Resident.
1 VIOLETEARED WAXBILL
Red bill. Blue forehead. Violet cheeks. Dark blue rump. Long black tail. Male has dark brown upper- and underparts, black bib. Female has pale throat and underparts, grey upperparts. Call: soft, often repeated “tiu-woowee”. Dry bushveld. Pairs or small parties, often with Melba Finches or Blue Waxbills (previous page). North. Resident.
Similar
BLACK-FACED WAXBILL Estrilda erythronotos
Black facial mask. Dark red belly and rump. Greyish body.
SWEE WAXBILL Coccopygia melanotis
Red rump. Yellow belly. Red lower mandible. Male has black face. South and east.
Estrilda astrild
2 COMMON WAXBILL
Red bill. Red eye-stripe. Reddish wash on belly. Body lightly barred. Call: loud “ping-ping”. Rank vegetation, vleis, reedbeds. Pairs or flocks constantly on the move, flying off in ones and twos when disturbed. Feeds from seed heads and on ground. Widespread except very dry areas. Resident.
Amadina erythrocephala
3 REDHEADED FINCH
Male has red head, underparts pale with scaled appearance. Female is lightly barred below. Upperparts brown. Call: “chuck-chuck”. Dry thornveld, grassland. Small flocks feed on ground, often with other small birds. Central areas and northwest. Nomadic resident.
Similar
CUTTHROAT FINCH A. fasciata
Male has red band across throat. Head has scaly appearance. North-central areas.
Spermestes cucullatus
4 BRONZE MANNIKIN
Black and grey bill. Black head, throat and upper breast. Brown mantle and back. White underparts with barred flanks. Call: soft “chuk-chuck-chucka”. Grassland, open woodland. Flocks feed on ground or hanging from grass stems. Often huddle together on perch. East. Resident.
Similar
REDBACKED MANNIKIN S. bicolor
All-grey bill. Chestnut back. More extensive black on head.
Vidua macroura
5 PINTAILED WHYDAH
Breeding male has red bill, black head and upperparts, white collar and underparts, long straight tail. Female is brown with streaked head. Call: “tseet-tseet” in display. Wide variety of habitats. Groups comprise male plus several females and immatures. Breeding male aggressive and dominant at food source. Widespread except northwest. Resident.
Similar
SHAFTTAILED WHYDAH V. regia
Breeding male has buff underparts, thin tailshafts with bulbous ends. Northwest and central areas.
Vidua paradisaea
6 LONG-TAILED PARADISE WHYDAH
Breeding male has black bill, head and upperparts, buff collar, maroon breast band and long, broad tail feathers tapering to point. Female and non-breeding male buff with broad black eye-stripe. Call: chirping notes. Acacia thornveld, savanna. Male perches conspicuously or performs display flight. North. Resident.
1 VILLAGE INDIGOBIRD
Red bill and legs. Breeding male has jet-black plumage. Female and non-breeding male are brown. Call: mimics redbilled fire-finch (host species). Male calls from prominent perch throughout breeding season. Northeast. Resident.
Similar
DUSKY INDIGOBIRD V. funerea
Breeding male has white bill, red legs.
PURPLE INDIGOBIRD V. purpurascens
Breeding male has pale pinkish-white bill and legs.
Crithagra mozambicus
2 YELLOW-FRONTED CANARY
Bold facial markings. Greyish crown and nape. Yellow rump. White tail tip. Call: trills and warbles. Woodland. Flocks mix with other canaries and waxbills. Feeds mostly on ground. North and east. Resident.
Similar
FOREST CANARY C. scotops
Heavily streaked olive-green and yellow. Eastern forests.
YELLOW CANARY C. flaviventris
Mostly yellow. Darker in south. Western half of region.
CAPE CANARY C. canicollis
Grey nape, ear coverts. Yellow face lacks markings.
South and east.
BRIMSTONE CANARY C. sulphuratus
Heavy bill. Olive-green. Paler in north. South and east.
Crithagra atrogularis
3 BLACKTHROATED CANARY
Black throat. Streaked grey upperparts. Yellow rump. White tail tip. Otherwise drab. Call: rambling canary-like warbles. Woodland, dry river beds. Small nomadic flocks. Drinks regularly. Widespread in interior. Resident.
Similar
WHITETHROATED CANARY C. albogularis
Large bill. White throat patch. Dry west.
STREAKY-HEADED SEEDEATER C. gularis
Bold white eyebrow. Streaked crown. South and east.
BLACKHEADED CANARY C. alario
Male has black head and bib, chestnut back, white below. Female brown. Arid west.
PROTEA SEEDEATER C. leucopterus
Pale bill. Drab. Two whitish wing-bars. Extreme southwest.
Emberiza capensis
4 CAPE BUNTING
Two white stripes on black face. Whitish throat. Rufous wings. Call: nasal “cheriowee”, also “tip-cheeu-tip-cheeu”. Rocky terrain in north; sandy, coastal scrub in south. Singly or in pairs. Widespread except north and east. Resident.
Similar
CINNAMON-BREASTED BUNTING E. tahapisi
Three white stripes on black face. Black throat. Rufous underparts. Northwestern and east-central areas.
LARKLIKE BUNTING E. impetuani
Pale cinnamon. Face markings indistinct. Rufous wing edges.
Emberiza flaviventris
5 GOLDENBREASTED BUNTING
Two white stripes on black face. Yellow throat and underparts. North and east. Resident.
YELLOW WEAVER Suspended from reeds or trees. Large colonies.
THICKBILLED WEAVER Roosting nest. Suspended in reeds or bushes. When breeding, entrance is modified to narrow opening. Solitary.
SOUTHERN BROWN-THROATED WEAVER Suspended from reeds or bushes. Solitary.
DARK-BACKED WEAVER Suspended from low branches in forest or dense bush. Solitary breeders but several nests often present.
SOUTHERN MASKED WEAVER Suspended from reeds or trees. Large colonies.
LESSER MASKED WEAVER Suspended from reeds or trees. Large colonies.
CAPE WEAVER Suspended from trees or in reeds over water, or from trees away from water. Small colonies.
REDHEADED WEAVER Built of sticks and suspended from trees. Solitary.
SPECTACLED WEAVER Suspended from bushes or trees. Spout often longer. Small colonies.
VILLAGE WEAVER Suspended from bushes or trees over water. Spout may be longer or absent. Large colonies.
GOLDEN WEAVER Suspended from bushes, trees or reeds. Solitary.
