Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (Roberts, 7th ed.)
Tockus leucomelas
Yellow-billed Hornbill (Roberts, 6th ed.)
Tockus flavirostris
Roberts No. 459



Video: Yellow-billed Hornbill ~ 46 sec.
Photo and video clip by 'Skipper' - Djuma, Sabi Sands, SA, WildEarth Game Drive

"The Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill has a height of 60 cms and weighs around 170 gms. The head is coloured grey while the bill is coloured yellow. The Tockus leucomelas has a white coloured throat, grey legs and a black coloured back. The eyes are yellow." (1)

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

Hadeda Ibis
Bostrychia hagedash
Roberts No. 94




Pictures taken by 'eiguoc' 10/2008 at Djuma, Sabi Sands, SA, WildEarth Game Drive

Hadeda Ibis ~ 2:05 min.
Video taken by 'CJ' on 8/4/07 at Djuma, Sabi Sands, SA, WildEarth Game Drive

The Hadeda Ibis is a large bird with long down curved bill. It has a distinctively loud and recognizable 'haa-haa-haa-de-dah' call that is often heard when flying from or to the nest, hence the name. (1)

The head is coloured grey while the bill is coloured black; a grey coloured throat, black legs and a grey coloured back. (2)

Kenya birds web site has a beautiful photo of the Ibis (3)

References:
(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadada_Ibis
(2) http://www.birdsinsa.com/birds/bostrychiahagedash.htm
(3) http://www.kenyabirds.org.uk/hadada.htm

Dusky Indigobird (Roberts 7th ed.)
Black Widowfinch (Roberts 6th ed.)
Vidua funerea
Roberts No. 864

OR

Purple Indigobird (Roberts 7th ed.)
Purple Widowfinch (Roberts 6th ed.)
Vidua purpurascens
Roberts No. 865

Here is a picture and video of the Widowfinch now called Indigiobird from the WildEarth game drive on 28 Feb 2009. Marc was the presenter and did not give it a specific name of 'Widowfinch:'



Indigobird [Widowfinch] ~~ appx. 36 sec.

There are two it could be. One is the Dusky Indigobird and the other is the Purple Indigobird. The main difference is the color of their feet. One has red/orange legs and feet and the other has whitish pink ones. From the video it is really hard to tell and we did not get a good close-up picture of it. At first I thought it was the Dusky because of the map locations given and labeled the photo and video but replaying the video and trying to get a better photo, there was no way to be certain.

References:
(1) Sinclair & Hockey, The Larger Illustrated Guide to Birds of Southern Africa, 2005.

African Jacana
Actophilornis africanus
Roberts No. 240





African Jacana - AM Drive ~ 1:03 min.

African Jacana - PM Drive ~ 1:35 min.

Pics and video clips taken by 'CJ' on 2/7/08 on both WildEarth morning and evening drives, Djuma, Sabi Sands, SA.

"The African Jacana has a height of 32 cms and weighs around 140 gms. The head is coloured black while the bill is coloured blue. The Actophilornis africanus has a white coloured throat, grey legs and a chestnut coloured back. The eyes are brown."(1)

Reference:
(1) http://www.birdsinsa.com/birds/actophil ... icanus.htm

Brown-hooded Kingfisher
Halcyon albiventris
Roberts No. 181


Picture taken by 'CJ' on 6/18/07 at Djuma, Sabi Sands, SA, WildEarth Game Drive

The Brown-Hooded Kingfisher are more than likely the best known of the kingfishers.
The head is coloured brown while the bill is coloured red. The Halcyon albiventris has a white coloured throat, orange legs and a black coloured back.(1) They have a call which can be interpreted as saying 'pity for me'. (2)

Greg Lasley has a beautiful photo in reference (3) below.

References:
1. http://www.birdsinsa.com/birds/halcyonalbiventris.htm
2. http://www.djuma.co.za/bird_kingfisher.php
3. http://www.greglasley.net/brownhoodking.html

Grey-headed Kingfisher
Halcyon leucocephala
Roberts No. 436





Photos taken by eiguoc on Dec. 23, 2009, Djuma, Sabi Sands, SA, WildEarth Game Drive


The Grey-headed Kingfisher has a height of 22 cms and weighs around 45 gms. The head is coloured grey while the bill is coloured carmine. The Halcyon leucocephala has a white coloured throat, red legs and a black coloured back. The eyes are brown.
The Halcyon leucocephala attacks its prey aerially and feeds on wing or takes the prey to a secluded venue where it is killed, torn into small pieces and eaten(1)

References:
(1) http://www.birdsinsa.com/birds/halcyonleucocephala.htm
(2) Photo : http://www.kenyabirds.org.uk/fish_gh.htm

Malachite Kingfisher
Alcedo cristata
Roberts No. 431



Video clip: Malachite Kingfisher ~ 3:26 min.
Picture and video taken by 'CJ' on 4/7/08 at Djuma, Sabi Sands, SA, WildEarth Game Drive

"The Malachite Kingfisher has a height of 14 cms and weighs around 17 gms. The head is coloured greenish blue while the bill is coloured red. The Alcedo cristata has a white coloured throat, orange legs and a blue coloured back. The eyes are brown."(1)

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

Pied Kingfisher
Ceryle rudis
Roberts No. 428


Picture taken by 'CJ' on 1/12/09 at Djuma, Sabi Sands, SA, WildEarth Game Drive

A female Pied Kingfisher (a double band on her chest)


A pair ~

Pictures taken by 'CJ' on 5/11/10 at Djuma, Sabi Sands, SA, WildEarth Game Drive

"The Pied Kingfisher has a height of 25 cms and weighs around 85 gms. The head is coloured black while the bill is coloured black. The Ceryle rudis has a white coloured throat, black legs and a black coloured back. The eyes are brown."(1)

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