African Wildlife Species ID threads, Charters

For the Species ID threads,
Only photos from the Sabi Sands (i.e., WildEarth/Djuma) cams and an ID. A simple description is also wanted. A reference link(s) must be added to provide the source(s) of information. An older, less clear photo on an ID may be replaced when a more current photo is posted on a cam thread.

Note: Please upload any pictures with your posts, if possible, so that they stay here and photos do not disappear because of broken links from commercial sites.
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The birds in this ID thread are identified by their current name from "Roberts Birds of Southern Africa, 7th ed." (Birds in Southern Africa, http://www.birdsinsa.com/). Austin Roberts (1883-1948), a native of South Africa, first published his "Birds of South Africa" in 1940. It has continued to be updated to include Southern Africa. If the name of the bird has changed, the old name from the 6th ed. of Roberts is also given. We have included the scientific or Latin name for the bird as well as the Roberts unique identification number for the bird. If you wish to do an internet search for more information on a specific bird, having the Latin name and/or the Roberts No. should help narrow your search. The Roberts No. groups the birds in a family with a similar range of numbers, so if the bird is similar to the one you are looking for, look for other birds with a Roberts No. which is close.

Alphabetical Index

NOTE: Any bird in blue is at the end of the thread as it was added later and cannot be inserted in alphabetical order. Page numbers or links to a specific bird will be added when that feature is working correctly in the new forum software.

Babbler, Arrow-marked
Barbet, Black-collared
Barbet, Crested
Bee-Eater, European
Bee-Eater, Little
Bee-Eater, Southern Carmine
Bittern, Dwarf
Brubru
Bulbul, African Red-eyed
Bunting, Cinnamon-breasted
Bunting, Golden-breasted
Bustard, Black-bellied [Korhaan]
Buzzard, European Honey-
Buzzard, Lizard
Buzzard, Steppe

Canary, Yellow-fronted
Chat, White-throated Robin-
Cisticola, Rattling
Coot, Red-knobbed
Cormorant, Reed
Coucal, Burchell's
Courser, Bronze-winged
Crombec, Long-billed
Crow, Pied
Cuckoo, Common (European)
Cuckoo, Diderick (Diederik)
Cuckoo, Grey Spotted
Cuckoo, Jacobin
Cuckoo, Klaas's
Cuckoo, Levaillant's (Striped)
Cuckoo, Red-chested

Dove, Cape-Turtle
Dove, Emerald-spotted Wood-
Dove, Laughing
Dove, Namaqua
Drongo, Fork-tailed
Duck, African Black
Duck, Comb (Knob-billed)
Duck, White-faced
Duck, Yellow-billed

Eagle, African Fish
Eagle, African Hawk-
[Eagle], Bateleur
Eagle, Brown Snake-
Eagle, Martial
Eagle, Tawny
Eagle, Wahlberg's

Falcon, Amur
Finch, Melba
Firefinch, Jameson's
Flycatcher, African Dusky
Flycatcher, African Paradise-
Flycatcher, Southern Black
Flycatcher, Spotted
Francolin, Coqui
Francolin, Crested
Francolin, Shelley's

Goose, Egyptian
Goshawk, Dark Chanting
Grebe, Litle (Dabchick)
Grey (Lourie) Go-away Bird
Guineafowl, Helmeted

Hamerkop
Harrier, Pallid
Hawk, African (Gymnogene) Harrier-
Heron, Grey
Honeyguide, Greater
Hoopoe, African
Hoopoe, Green (Red-billed) Wood-
Hornbill, African Grey
Hornbill, Red-billed
Hornbill, Southern Ground
Hornbill, Southern Yellow-Billed

Ibis, Hadeda
Indigobird - Dusky or Purple

Jacana, African

Kingfisher, Brown-hooded
Kingfisher, Grey-headed
Kingfisher, Giant
Kingfisher, Malachite
Kingfisher, Pied
Kingfisher, Striped
Kingfisher, Woodland
Kite, Black-shouldered
Korhaan, Red-crested

Lapwing, Blacksmith (Plover)
Lapwing, Black-winged (Plover)
Lapwing, Crowned (Plover)
Longclaw, Yellow-throated

Moorhen, Common (juvie)

Nightjars

Openbill, African (Stork)
Oriole, Black-headed
Owl, African Scops-
Owl, Southern White-faced Scops-
Owl, Verreaux's Eagle (Giant Eagle)
Owlet, African Barred
Owlet, Pearl-spotted
Oxpecker, Red-billed

Parrot, Brown-headed
Pigeon, African Green-
Plover, Three-banded
Puffback [Shrike], Black-backed
Pytilia, Green-winged (see: Melba Finch)

Quelea, Red-billed

Robin, White-browed Scrub-
Roller, European
Roller, Lilac-breasted
Roller, Purple

Sandgrouse, Double-banded
Sandpiper, Common
Sandpiper, Wood
Scimitarbill, Common (Scimitarbilled Wood-Hoopoe)
Secretary Bird
Shirka (Little Banded Goshawk)
Shrike, Grey-headed Bush-
Shrike, Magpie (Long-tailed)
Shrike, Orange-breasted Bush-
Shrike, Red-backed
Shrike, Southern White-crowned
Shrike, White-crested Helmet-
Sparrowhawk, Little
Sparrowhawk, Ovambo
Spoonbill, African
Spurfowl, Natal (Francolin)
Spurfowl, Swainson's (Francolin)
Starling, Burchell's
Starling, Cape Glossy
Starling, Violet-backed (Plum-coloured)
Starling, Wattled
Stork, Maribou
Stork, Saddle-billed
Stork, White
Stork, Woolly-necked
Stork, Yellow-billed
Swallow, Barn (European)
Swallow, Red-breasted

Tchagra, Black-crowned
Tchagra, Brown-crowned (Three-streaked)
Thick-knee, Water (Water Dikkop)
Thrush, Groundscraper
Tit, Southern Black

Vulture, Hooded
Vulture, Lappet-faced
Vulture, White-backed
Vulture, White-headed

Wagtail, African Pied
Waxbill, Blue
Weaver, Lesser Masked-
Weaver, Red-billed Buffalo
Weaver, Red-headed
Weaver, Southern Masked-
Weaver, Village
Whydah, Broad-tailed Paradise-
Whydah, Long-tailed Paradise-
Whydah, Pin-tailed
Widowbird, White-winged
Woodpecker, Bearded
Woodpecker, Bennett's
Woodpecker, Cardinal
Woodpecker, Golden-tailed

Index by Group

Bird ID Index ~ Bird Groups
Use this link to the old forum (until this has been updated) if you do not know the name -- it will narrow your search

Here is a link that breaks down the birds into their groups and has wonderful photos and other information:

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/bir ... cation.htm

Arrow-marked Babbler
Turdoides jardineii
Roberts No.560





Video:
Arrow-marked Babbler ~ 44 sec.
Pictures and video taken by 'CJ' on 1/31/08 at Djuma, Sabi Sands, SA, WildEarth Game Drive

The arrow-marked babbler is a brown babbler whose throat, neck and breast feathers are pointed and white tipped. It is about the same size as a starling. The height of the Arrow-marked Babbler is about 25 cms and its weight is about 72 gms. The male and female Arrow-marked Babbler have the same plumage and colours:the head is black/brown; the eyes are orange; it has a black bill is black; the throat and back are brown and the legs are black. (2)

References::
(1) http://tanzaniabirds.net/African_birds/ ... ed/amb.htm
(2) http://www.thekruger.com/turdoidesjardineii/

Black-collared Barbet
Lybius torquatus
Roberts No. 464

Originally posted by 'eiguoc' on 4/12/09


taken by eiguoc at Djuma, Sabi Sands, SA, WildEarth Game Drive April 12/09

The Black-collared Barbet has a height of 20 cms and weighs around 58 gms. The head is coloured red while the bill is coloured black. The Lybius torquatus has a red coloured throat, black legs and a brown coloured back. The eyes are red.(1)

The Black-collared barbet is one of the most common barbets in Africa, being found from the DRC to Kenya, extending south to southern Africa, occurring in a variety of habitats. It eats mainly fruit, with the rest of its diet composed of insects and nectar. Both sexes excavate the nest, which is a hole usually on the underside of dead branches of trees, preferably softwood trees like Ficus (wild fig). It lays 2-5 eggs, which are incubated by both sexes, for roughly 18 days. The chicks stay in the nest for about 33-36 days, and are fed fruit and insects by both parents.(2)

References:
1. http://www.birdsinsa.com/birds/lybiustorquatus.htm
2. http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/bir ... quatus.htm
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-collared_Barbet
4. http://birdquest.net/afbid/birdspecies. ... bs_id=1029

Crested Barbet
Trachyphonus vaillantii
Roberts No. 473






Pictures taken by 'CJ' on 7/18/08 at Djuma, Sabi Sands, SA, WildEarth Game Drive

Video:
Crested Barbet ~ 1:13 min.
Video taken by 'CJ' on 3/29/08 at Djuma, Sabi Sands, SA, WildEarth Game Drive

"The Crested Barbet has a height of 23 cms and weighs around 80 gms. The head is coloured yellow while the bill is coloured yellow. The Trachyphonus vaillantii has a yellow coloured throat, grey legs and a yellow coloured back. The eyes are brown."(1)

Reference:
(1) Birds of Southern Africa: http://www.birdsinsa.com/birds/trachyph ... lantii.htm

European Bee-eater
aka Common Bee-eater
Merops apiaster
Roberts No. 438



Video clip: European Bee-eater ~ 45 sec.
Photo and video taken by 'CJ' Jan. 29, 2008, Djuma, Sabi Sands, SA, WildEarth Game Drive

"The European Bee-eater has a height of 29 cms and weighs around 52 gms. The head is coloured blue, chestnut while the bill is coloured grey. The Merops apiaster has a yellow coloured throat, black legs and a blue coloured back. The eyes are red."(1) In Southern Africa, it is the only bee-eater with a chestnut crown and mantle.

References:
(1) http://www.birdsinsa.com/birds/meropsapiaster.htm
(2) http://www.birdguides.com/species/species.asp?sp=87020
(3) Photos: http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/bir ... iaster.htm

Little Bee-eater
Merops pusillus
Roberts No. 444






Photos taken by 'CJ' on 1/6/08 at Djuma Game Reserve, Sabi Sands, SA, WildEarth Game Drive

Video:
Little Bee-Eater ~ 1:07 min.
Video taken by 'CJ' on 8/21/07 at Djuma, Sabi Sands, SA, WildEarth Game Drive

"The Little Bee-eater has a height of 17 cms and weighs around 15 gms. The head is coloured green while the bill is coloured black. The Merops pusillus has a yellow coloured throat, grey legs and a green coloured back. The eyes are red."(1)

Reference:
(1) Birds of Southern Africa: http://www.birdsinsa.com/birds/meropspusillus.htm