10,000 Birds

JUNE 20, 2022

The Bearded Woodpecker (Mkuze, South Africa) does not really look any more bearded than many other woodpeckers. The name of the Cardinal Woodpecker (Letaba, South Africa) is misleading, as not all of them are Catholic or even cardinals. It is the most widespread woodpecker in Africa, claims the HBW. ”).

Woodpeckers 220

Woodpeckers South Africa China Singapore 220

10,000 Birds

MARCH 18, 2021

The losing streak of the bulbul family continues with some other species such as the … … Dark-capped Bulbul (Drakensberg area, South Africa; eBird: “a rather nondescript thrush-sized brown bird”) … … White-eared Bulbul (Mumbai, eBird: “a dull gray-brown bulbul). Lucia, South Africa).

South Africa 214

South Africa Malaysia Africa China 214

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 19, 2023

Photos courtesy of Mosetlha Bush Camp A dusty-red road leads me through Marico bushveld deeper into the 750 square kilometers large wilderness of the Madikwe Game Reserve – the 4th largest reserve in South Africa, home to 350 bird and 66 mammal species, some 4 hours’ drive from Johannesburg.

South Africa 207

South Africa Africa Game Elephants 207

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 17, 2022

The Crested Barbet (Kruger Park, South Africa) looks a bit like a pointillist painting gone wrong. Lucia, South Africa) will be your favorite. That Smith Family is so depressing”. Future generations of birdcage designers will probably adapt the dimensions of the wire. Pernice Brothers).

South Africa 195

South Africa Africa India China 195

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 23, 2020

I feel that like most bird families (with the obvious exception of pheasants), buntings are somewhat underrated. The Little Bunting – as the name suggests – is probably the cutest of the family. I am particularly fond of Tristam`s Bunting – maybe the smartest-looking of the family. In other words, they are my kind of birds.

South Africa 172

South Africa China Germany Family 172

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 30, 2011

But there is one kind of tick that I genuinely do enjoy, and as I do more and more birding it becomes harder and harder to get; new families. Getting entirely new families is easy when you start birding. Sometimes you may even lose them, like the aforementioned woodswallows which are probably no longer a family.

Family 162

Family Wombats Uganda Fiji 162

10,000 Birds

MAY 16, 2022

St Lucia is a small town on the Southeastern coast of South Africa. One of the most interesting aspects of watching birds in Africa is to see different members of bird families that I already know from China. Different bird families, I know. The Brown-hooded Kingfisher is one of them.

South Africa 190

South Africa Africa Saint Lucia Birds 190

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 10, 2015

Earlier this year, Duncan wrote a charming piece about Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens in Cape Town, South Africa. Promerops is a Southern African endemic family with the Cape Sugarbird, Promerops cafer , restricted to the very southern tip of the continent. It must be difficult maintaining their dignity some days.

South Africa 145

South Africa Africa Family Birds 145

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2016

A couple of years ago Adam posted a story on this site that so entranced me that when I went to South Africa a bit over a year ago the location he described was top of my bucket list. They are closely related to the oddball Rockfowl of Western Africa, and live in family groups, led by a breeding pair, in Southern Africa.

South Africa 102

South Africa Africa Family Groups 102

10,000 Birds

JUNE 10, 2015

In many ways the weaver family is for Africa are similar beasts to the pseudowarblers of North America (sometimes called wood-warblers). In the meantime, in order to rectify this I present some images of the Village Weaver, a widespread African species that ranges from Senegal to Ethiopia and down to South Africa.

South Africa 154

South Africa Senegal Ethiopia Africa 154

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 30, 2014

And at last the family Malaconotidae will show up on a 10,000 Birds search. The Malaconotidae are Bush-Shrikes, a family endemic to the continent of Africa and were split from the Laniidae Shrikes after it was shown that they were sufficiently different to warrant a new branch. Try it for yourselves; Bokmakierie.

South Africa 179

South Africa Africa Family Birds 179

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

Among some other species of the kingfisher family, this species is a bit of a laughingstock. The Hadeda Ibis is apparently spreading in South Africa and even thriving in places like Johannesburg, living at least partly on dog food. ” Instead, it mostly feeds on insects captured on the ground. .” 300 birds (HBW).

South Africa 147

South Africa Niger Birds Mice 147

10,000 Birds

MAY 4, 2016

Africa is home to many striking and brightly coloured members of the starling family, a family that gets short thrift in many parts of the world due to the widespread introduction of a few rather, uh, domineering, species. So go to South Africa and find one! They will sit on tiles in search of a scrap though.

South Africa 100

South Africa Africa Family Species 100

10,000 Birds

JUNE 12, 2012

Before self-rule it was administered by South Africa and known as South-West Africa. After a brutal colonization that included genocidal campaigns against the Herero (80% killed) and Nama (50% killed) tribes, the Germans lost control when South Africa invaded soon after the declaration of the First World War.

Namibia 242

Namibia Angola Lovebirds South Africa 242

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 15, 2017

The reserve, in the eastern corner of Botswana near Zimbabwe and South Africa, isn’t open to the public in general, so I figured I’d share a few images here by way of showing off. Red-crested Korhaans are attractive members of the bustard family. I mean education. Red-faced Mousebirds are common African specialities.

Zimbabwe 100

Zimbabwe Botswana South Africa Endangered Species 100

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 18, 2015

I found out on my second day in Mkuze, a great game reserve in South Africa, earlier this year when on my first dark night, poor visibility, uneven ground and unsteady footing resulted in a twisted ankle and a day in camp keeping weight off it. Long-billed Crombecs are members of the African warbler family.

South Africa 145

South Africa Tortoises Woodpeckers Birds 145

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2013

Fynbos is the distinctive vegetation type of the Cape region of South Africa. The Southern Double-collared Sunbird, Cinnyris chalybeus, flourishes amongst the fynbos but, unlike some of its close family, is not restricted to this habitat. It is characterised by plant communities such as Ericas, Aloes and Proteas.

South Africa 189

South Africa Africa Collecting Family 189

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 22, 2022

So, it sometimes comes to South Africa to relax and enjoy relative anonymity. While hoopoes are in their own family, DNA studies suggest that the hoopoe diverged from hornbills, and the wood-hoopoes and scimitarbills from the hoopoe. Of course, the second explanation makes a lot more sense.

Zimbabwe 147

Zimbabwe Birds South Africa Benin 147

10,000 Birds

JULY 9, 2019

Last week, a good friend, Dan Weisz gave me a tip on the location of a family of Burrowing Owls that were extremely easy to access. I can’t begin to tell you how much fun I had sitting and watching the antics of this family of Burrowing Owls. These are the Great Horned Owl fledglings that arrived in our RV Park a few days ago.

Owls 144

Owls Arizona Tucson South Africa 144

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 3, 2024

Called home to the Oregon Coast to operate the family motel, in her free time she leads Tufted Puffin walks and escapes to guide at birding festivals and explore the world as often as possible. Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa are heavily eBirded because Americans regularly visit. eBird is a huge help with that.

Senegal 184

Senegal South Dakota Gambia Birds 184

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 1, 2011

I don’t think I’ve ever done a post on my home patch of Cape Town, South Africa. The little seaside village of Rooiels is famed for being a wonderful location to pick up some choice South African endemics but it is also one of the most beautiful spots in the Cape.

South Africa 235

South Africa Penguins Birds Africa 235

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2012

Africa has more than its fair share of storks, with 8 of the world’s 19 species gracing the continent. Furthermore we have another very special stork-like bird, the regal Shoebill , previously known as the Whale-headed Stork but now placed in its own family. They are also attracted by fires and can gather in thousands.

Africa 232

Africa Tanzania South Africa Uganda 232

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 9, 2016

So, last time I promised to write about some of the other birding spots around Cape Town in South Africa. Rooi Els and Betty’s Bay are a great place to start. These are two small communities on the eastern edge of False Bay to the east of the city. A terrible shot of a Cape Rockjumper.

South Africa 124

South Africa Penguins Africa Whales 124

10,000 Birds

MAY 12, 2013

This species is a southern African endemic, restricted to, but fortunately not uncommon, in dry woodland and sand forest habitats of northern Zululand, Swaziland, scattered pockets of north-eastern South Africa and southern Mozambique. Once their soft trilling call is learnt, they are easily detected.

Africa 201

Africa Somalia Pelicans Mozambique 201

10,000 Birds

MARCH 13, 2012

mi (almost exactly the same size as Indiana), it is one of the smaller provinces of South Africa, but is the second most densely populated with over 10 million inhabitants. The famous Verreaux family who made several expeditions into the province through the 1820’s and 1830’s procuring specimens for rich collectors.

Mozambique 182

Mozambique South Africa Africa Collecting 182

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 3, 2014

Given that they are a family of obscure deepwater whales that are very hard to see, I would imagine this is a contender for one that will never leave my list. Trips albatrosses bucket lists South Africa wish lists' Given that I live on a nearby island I should really make the time to go and visit. A beaked whale.

Sharks 169

Sharks Leopards Whales Whaling 169

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 14, 2012

True geese belong to the tribe or sub-family Anserini within the larger family Anatidae that encompasses ducks, geese and swans. And the Magpie Geese of the same country are believed to be neither ducks nor geese nor swans and are now placed within their own family Anseranatidae.

Geese 177

Geese Ducks Botswana South Africa 177

10,000 Birds

JULY 25, 2018

Today, I saw a handful of Mallards , two Common Mergansers, and a Wood Duck Family. South Africa species – 219. This Western Wood Pewee was going back and forth with a mouth full of bugs as well. In the winter this place is alive with thousand of ducks and geese. eBird Checklists – 237. USA species – 111.

New Zealand 110

New Zealand Seattle Qatar South Africa 110

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 25, 2015

Early starts are the rule when monitoring endagered species in Mkuze Game Reserve, in South Africa, but there’s a particular urgency to this morning’s start. Like other social animals, his family connections were keeping him alive, as his family was feeding him.

Wolves 187

Wolves Lions Dogs Vet 187

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2011

Growing up within an hour of one of the world’s premier shorebird destinations -- West Coast National Park in South Africa -- helped for sure. Filming the plovers of Estero Lagoon Plovers are a significant part of the shorebird family, comprising 66 species worldwide. Firstly, shorebirds present a significant ID challenge.

Florida 182

Florida South Africa 2011 Africa 182

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2012

Prime destinations for seeing African Elephant in the wild include Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Uganda. Black Rhinos are best sought in South Africa, Namibia and Tanzania. Lions are most easily found in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Buffalo 194

Buffalo Rhinoceros Elephants Leopards 194

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2018

After leaving Africa, I was fearing a real let down in my birding. New Zealand had been good, Australia was incredible, and South Africa was almost life altering. We have been dragging him thru every bird spot possible, so he could go to Scotland to see where his family is from. Where do you go from there?

Qatar 112

Qatar Sparrows South Africa Africa 112

10,000 Birds

APRIL 5, 2011

By age 2 she could identify over 10 species of birds in our Johannesburg, South Africa, yard by call alone. Astounding because she picked up birding before she could speak and surprising because this ability was definitely not inherited from anyone in my family, myself included. And perhaps 20 others by sight.

Birds 276

Birds Game Wildlife Family 276

10,000 Birds

JULY 22, 2015

While there as some very attractive members of the family (or families, scientists can’t make up their minds) in Asia, in Africa the babblers tend towards the restrained when it comes to plumage. In Southern Africa this species tends to be found in the drier savannah habitats (but not the driest).

Africa 162

Africa Asia Family Groups 162

10,000 Birds

MARCH 29, 2015

We saw a smaller member of the potoo family, Northern Potoo , Nyctibius jamaicensis , at Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge, boating and birding the Salado River. I had seen Thick-Knees in South Africa, but I was very excited to see this species, which is the only member of its family found in Central America.

Honduras 241

Honduras Birds Costa Rica Groups 241

10,000 Birds

JULY 30, 2014

This time I’ll be working with Wildlife ACT in Zululand, helping that NGO monitor wildlife in a range of reserves and parks in the east of South Africa. Ugandan Mangabeys were part of my family once. My third trip was six months spend working on a monkey project in the jungles of Uganda.

Uganda 160

Uganda Sharks Africa New Zealand 160

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 11, 2021

Next, band names referring to individual birds or bird families. The Bowerbirds are an American independent-folk band as well as an Australian bird family. The bird family, however, is not. Fortunately, Berninger recently covered the song “Big bird” A big bird ( Ostrich , Cape Town, South Africa).

South Africa 214

South Africa China Germany Birds 214