Birding in Southern Africa by Roy Astley Fryer
| Here are some of the bird species I research in my travels/safari's/birdwatching in the African bushveld. |
"Ground Hornbill" (Bucorvus leadbeateri) Endangered
A large black carnivorous bird with prominent red throat and face.
Its neck is often puffy. A bellowing call is distinctive and has a large
black decurved bill. It's toes are distinctively arched and in flight it
shows it's broad white in its outer wings. The female is
distinguished from the male having a blue throat patch. Juveniles
differ from adults having yellow (not red) facial and throat patches.
Their habitat is in savannas, woodlands and grasslands. An
endangered species. The profits of this ground hornbill painting
on my website goes directly into the research and ongoing
conservation of this beautiful majestic endangered bird.
Its neck is often puffy. A bellowing call is distinctive and has a large
black decurved bill. It's toes are distinctively arched and in flight it
shows it's broad white in its outer wings. The female is
distinguished from the male having a blue throat patch. Juveniles
differ from adults having yellow (not red) facial and throat patches.
Their habitat is in savannas, woodlands and grasslands. An
endangered species. The profits of this ground hornbill painting
on my website goes directly into the research and ongoing
conservation of this beautiful majestic endangered bird.
| Southern Ground hornbill |
Southern Yellow-billed hornbill. (Tocus leucomelas)
The large yellow bill is diagnostic.
Very similar looking to the
red-billed hornbill with smaller
white primary spots, only visable in
flight. They live in thorn and broad
leaved woodlands.
Very similar looking to the
red-billed hornbill with smaller
white primary spots, only visable in
flight. They live in thorn and broad
leaved woodlands.
African grey hornbill (Tockus nasutus)
Males have dark bills with a creamy stripe at
base and on the casque. They mostly feed
on small reptiles and insects. The top of the
females bill is pale yellow with a maroon tip.
base and on the casque. They mostly feed
on small reptiles and insects. The top of the
females bill is pale yellow with a maroon tip.
Malachite Kingfisher (Alcedo cristata)
These species differ from the smaller African Pygmy Kingfisher. Having a
turquoise and black barred crown that extends down to the eye. Lacking
the violet washes near the eye.
turquoise and black barred crown that extends down to the eye. Lacking
the violet washes near the eye.
Wild Brown-head parrots(Poicephalus cryptoxanthus) in the wild.
In all my birding years finding the Brown-headed parrots in the wild on
safaris has always been a difficult find. This is my fourth sighting of these
beautiful parrots. This being the first time I was close enough to photograph
them. I have heard their calls before in the distance but been unable to see
them. So camouflaged with their plumage in the African bushveld. They are
relatively slow moving in the trees and do not hop/bounce around trees like
most other birds. We first located them though their calls in the brush. They
are mainly flock birds. We found them feeding on the Coral Tree's seed
pods in Southern Africa in the Kruger National Park near Berg en Dal and
Pretoriuskop.
safaris has always been a difficult find. This is my fourth sighting of these
beautiful parrots. This being the first time I was close enough to photograph
them. I have heard their calls before in the distance but been unable to see
them. So camouflaged with their plumage in the African bushveld. They are
relatively slow moving in the trees and do not hop/bounce around trees like
most other birds. We first located them though their calls in the brush. They
are mainly flock birds. We found them feeding on the Coral Tree's seed
pods in Southern Africa in the Kruger National Park near Berg en Dal and
Pretoriuskop.
| All Artwork & Graphic Images/Photography/Images are copyright protected by Wildlife Artist Roy Astley Fryer.com 2003/6.RA Fryer art,Legal action will be taken against offenders. "birdart.org" |
Three Brown-heads
up in the tree. The
bottom right parrot
is a fledgling.
up in the tree. The
bottom right parrot
is a fledgling.
| Nominate species of the Brown Headed Parrot enjoying the seeds of a Coral tree in southern Africa. |
| "Conservation is the Mother of all unborn" RoyAstleyFryer 2004 |
| The Brownhead species is split into three sub species known as: Poicephalus cryptoxanthus cryptoxanthus. This is the nominate race ranging from eastern Zululand to southern Mozambique. Poicephalus cryptoxanthus tanganyikae:Comes from the east coast stretching from Kenya down through southern Mozambique. Poicephalus cryptoxanthus zanzibaricus: This species is only found on the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba The differences between these sub species is very slight. The Tanganyikae is differentiated by the fact that it is a paler more yellowish green bird than the nominate race, Cryptoxanthus. The Zanzibaricus is said to be slightly larger than Tanganyikae, but otherwise identical. Which obviously makes it very difficult to identify Habitat: To be found in woodlands. Feeding on a variety of seeds, nuts and berries. |
Photography: R A Fryer
Photography: R A Fryer