Birds. The Inside Story. Exploring birds and their behaviour in southern Africa

Authors: Rael and Hélène Loon
Struik Publishers
Cape Town, 2005
ISBN 1770071512
Softcover, 17x23 cm, 200 pages, throughout colour photos and illustrations

Description:

At last - a book that goes beyond bird identification and delves into the fascinating and little-known world of bird behaviour and biology.

Birds - The Inside Story offers an absorbing insight into the lives of southern African birds, exploring a range of interesting topics.

Birds - The Inside Story will tell you more about these and many other fascinating aspects of the avion world.

Richly illustrated with colour photographs and finely detailed illustrations that bring the subject to life, this book is bound to captivate bird enthusiasts of all ages.

About the authors:

Husband and wife team, Rael and Hélène Loon, share a life-long passion for birds, which led them both into careers in conservation.

Hélène graduated with Honours in Ornithology at UCT and Rael holds a Masters degree in environmental management.

Both have extensive experience in ornithological research, raptor conservation and bird ringing projects. Hélène is an accomplished illustrator and provided the illustrations in the book.

Rael works as a consultant in conservation and community-based projects in Mpumulanga.

Media Reviews:

Pretoria News (Leon Marshall)
„... it will make an especially welcome contribution to the reference-book collection of birders who like to watch birds and get to know more about their different features and habits.“

South African Gardening
„It is brightly illustrated with a multitude of clear colour photographs and informative graphics and brings the avian world to life for both young and old readers - it is an excellent addition to your birding library.“

Content:

Sponsor‘s foreword
Acknowledgements
Preface
MECHANISMS OF FLIGHT
FEATHERS
BIRD SENSES
THE BREEDING GAME
NESTS AND NESTING
EXPLORING EGGS
CHICKS
FOSTER FAMILIES
SONGS AND SOUNDS
BIRD MENUS
THE MYSTERIES OF MIGRATION
TRACKS AND SIGNS
WHAT ‘S IN A NAME?
Glossary
Bibliography
Index

Preface:

Bird watching is much like stamp collecting - you don’t really appreciate it until you already have some stamps in your collection to admire and compare. The more you acquire, especially if they are colourful or really unusual or rare, the more motivated you are to continue collecting.

Birds, though, unlike stamps, are three-dimensional and alive. They exploit the sky, and almost every other habitat on earth, they fly vast distances, sing, feed, court and breed, all in front of the fascinated eyes of the bird watcher.

Bird watching is one of the fastest growing hobbies in southern Africa. This ever-increasing interest in southern African birds, both by local and foreign enthusiasts, is reflected in the diversity of new material continually being devoted to the subject, from books, magazines and posters, to websites, tapes and high-tech CD-roms. Books are undoubtedly one of the most popular and necessary of these items, and cater for a diverse readership, from young children and laymen to enthusiastic and knowledge-able amateurs and professionals in the field of ornithology.

It may seem that there are almost as many bird books on the shelves as there are bird species in southern Africa, so one could justifiably question whether there is a real need, or indeed market, for yet another work! The answer is a resounding yes - within the vast plethora of bird books available, a distinctly vacant niche exists for an engaging, stimulating, more generalized bird book that goes beyond mere species identification and highlights the many intriguing adaptations and fascinating aspects of bird biology and behaviour.

The vast majority of bird books currently available are either field guides focused primarily on species identification, or impressive photo-graphic coffee table books covering specialized interests. This book attempts to focus on the interesting and sometimes bizarre facts relating to birds in southern Africa.

For example, many avid birders may be able to identify a Rosy-faced Lovebird on sight or by its piercing call, but do they know that when building their nests, these remarkable birds carry their nesting material in the feathers on their backs, or that Palm-Swifts glue their nests together with sticky saliva? We look at nesting behaviour more closely, focusing among other things on the unique nest designs of the Cape Penduline Tit, the Hamerkop and Sociable Weavers ‘mansions’.

Many birders may have come across these or some other species eggs while out in the field, but do they know why some birds lay speckled eggs, while the eggs of other species are pure white or even bright blue in colour? Or why some eggs are round, while others are distinctly pointed at one end? How did the peculiar habit of brood parasitism evolve in some birds and not in others?

Did you know that it is the African Jacana male rather than the female that plays the major role in parental care; or that the chicks take shelter under the adult ‘s wings at any sign of danger? Did you know that the chicks of its relative, the Lesser Jacana, hide underwater using their protruding bills as snorkels to breathe until the coast is clear?

Did you know that different species of birds have very different wing and tail designs depending on their lifestyles? Do you know why albatrosses fly in distinct, zigzag flight patterns, how thermals are formed, or why some birds migrate and others choose to stay behind? Do you know why the legs of Marabou Storks appear to be whitewashed?

Do you know why nightjars have rictal bristles at the base of their mouths and special combs on their middle claws? Why birds sing at dawn? Or why they sing at all? Do you know why the tails of various widows are so long or how weavers woo their mates to their nests? Did you know that in some species, the male bird presents his partner with various‘nuptial gifts’ in order to strengthen the pair bond?

This book attempts to answer these questions and many more. The birding fraternity can generally be divided into two main groups - the ‘twitchers’, whose mission it is to tick as many bird species as possible off their check-list, and the so-called ‘Zen birders’, who are quite content to let the birds come to them. We hope this book will appeal to both camps and inspire readers to probe deeper into the fascinating life of the birds we so admire.

Index:

Abingdon, M 190
Albatross
Shy 15
Wandering 12, 20,
113,192
albatrosses
breeding and chicks
57,110
flying techniques 7,
19,20,20, 21
sense of smell 54
wing shape 16
albinism 33, 34
allopreening 36, 37,
57, 58
altricial species 6,
102-103, 102, 103
alula 13, 13, 14, 14, 25
anting 40
Apaloderma nar ‘ma 191
Apus spp. 18
Ardea fflliath 190, 790
Avocet, Pied 53, 84, 95,
97,98, 176
avocets 52
Babbler, Arrow-marked
63,88, 103, 130
babblers
eggs 88
host species 117
nests 65
non-migrant 160
Barbet
Acacia Pied 68, 79
Black-collared 34, 34,
117, 133
Crested 33, 71, 131,
194
Green (Woodwards ‘)
186,195
barbets
feet 177
food 144, 151
host species 117, 120
nests 71, 71
non-migrant 160
song 136
Bateleur 17, 17, 59
bathing 37-40, 38, 39,
187, 187
Batis
Cape 98
Chinspot 64, 77, 139
batises 68, 133, 135
‘Beau Geste ‘ effect 129
Bee-eater
Little 8;-i
Southern Carmine 70,
159, 167
White-fronted 30, 142,
167
White-throated 164
bee-eaters
breeding 58, 63
calls 130
flying technique 18
food 141, 142, 143
migrants 159, 162, 168
nests 70, 70, 71
pellets 184
tail 17
water-bathing 37
bill marks 185, 285
bills 11, 52, 52, 142-143,
143, 145, 152, 152
binocular vision 47-48,
47,48
bird calls
calls versus songs 128
purposes 56, 127-131,
127, 128, 129,
130, 131
song as defence 125
song development
110, 132-133,
132
song repertoires
133-137, 133, 134,
135, 136, 137
sonograms 138-139,
138, 139
syrinx 131, 131
types 140
Bishop
Southern Red 29, 58,
79,121,121, 123,
123. 124-125,
124. 129
Yellow-crowned 29
bishops
breeding 56, 59
nests 65, 80
song and display 129
Bittern
Eurasian 48, 136
Little 89
bitterns 36, 132
Bokmakierie 86, 129, 133
Bonn Convention 171
boobies 104
Boubou, Southern 132,
134,134
breathing system 11, 11
breeding
see also eggs; nests
co-operative breeding
62-63, 62, 63
courtship and mating
56-58, 56, 57, 58,
62, 135
gender differences
58-59, 58, 59
partnerships 59-61, 60
plumage 29, 58-59,
58, 60
brood parasitism 116,
116
defences 123-125, 124
eggs 120-121, 120, 123
evolution of 121-124,
121, 122, 123, 124
hosts 120
identity 125
tactics 118-119, 118,
119, 125, 126
types 117-118, 127
brood patches 95-96, 95
Brownbul, Terrestrial 130
Brubru 133, 135
Bubiilcus ibis 190
Buffalo-Weaver, Red-
billed 68, 78
Bulbul
Cape 33
Dark-capped 220, 121
bulbuls
food 144, 151
host species 117
mimicry 134
nests 65
buntings 65, 279
Buphagus africanus 192
Burchell, William John
189, 193
Bush-Shrike
Gorgeous 138, 238,
140
Grey-headed 140
Orange-breasted 140
bush-shrikes 133, 135
Bustard
Denham ‘s (Stanley ‘s)
194, 294
Kori 12, 56, 140
bustards 69, 176
buttonquails 36
Buzzard
Augur 68, 88
European Honey 164
Jackal 25, 68
Lizard 104
Steppe 161, 263, 164
camouflage 77, 86-89,
87, 88, 89
Campethera abingom 190
canaries 65, 144, 151
Caprimnlagus europaeus
190
carnivores 145-146, 180
carotenoids 31, 32
Chaffinch, Common 190
chats
eggs 88
host species 120
mimicry 134
chicks
altricial and precocial
102-103, 202, 203
departure from nest
113-114, 223, 224
food 110-112, 220,
222, 222, 114, 224
growth rates 113
imprinting 109-110,
209, 222
threats 103-108, 203,
204, 205, 206,
207, 208
Cisticola
Levaillant ‘s 194
Rattling 50
Wing-snapping 136
cisticolas
appearance and
behaviour 129
eggs 90,98
host species 117, 118
nests 65
song 132
Cliff-Chat, Mocking 79,
121
Coot, Red-knobbed 64,
70, 70, 177, 277
Cormorant
Bank 69
Cape 15, 69
cormorants
breathing 11
droppings 180
eggs 89
feet 177, 177
flying technique 14,
15, 21
grooming technique
36
nests 66, 80
sunbathing 38, 39
Coucal, Burchell ‘s 140,
140, 186, 189, 193
coucals 65
Courser
Burchell ‘s 189, 193
Double-banded 91, 92,
97, 97
coursers 77
courtship and mating
56-58, 56, 57, 58
crakes 132
Crane
Blue 57, 94, 103, 176
Wattled 92-93, 93
cranes
breeding 57
eggs 82,98, 100
feet 176
flying technique 14, 18
leucism 33
nests 103
Crombec, Long-billed
73, 73
crombecs 73, 73
crows 184
Cuckoo
African 126
African Emerald 118,
125, 126, 139
Black 126, 139
Common 139
Diderick 117, 122, 123,
123, 124, 126, 139,
156, 161
Great Spotted 226
Jacobin 120, 121,126
Klaas ‘s 116, 119, 126,
132, 188, 193
Levaillant ‘s 126
Red-chested 119, 120,
126, 132,161,173
Thick-billed 120, 120,
121, 126
cuckoos
brood parasite 90, 117,
118,119,121,122,
124-125, 126
brood patch 95
food 156
migration 168, 169,
169
song 133, 136
Cuvier, MF 189
dabchicks 58
Darter, African 35, 38,
38, 39, 49, 49, 66, 89,
148, 148, 177, 180
Delegorgue, Louis
Adolphe Joseph 193
digestive process
152-153, 152, 153
Diomedia exulans 192
Dove
Cape Turtle 84, 99
Laughing 145
Namaqua66, 112, 182
doves
chicks 101, 111-112
droppings 180, 181
eggs 88,98
feet 176, 176
food 145
nests 66, 78
Drongo
Fork-tailed 134, 154
Square-tailed 87
drongos
mimicry 134
nests 65
tails 17
droppings 179-183, 179,
180, 181, 182, 183
Duck
African Black 96
White-faced 37
Yellow-billed 28
ducks
bird ‘rape ‘ 60
droppings 180
eggs 96
feathers 24, 31
feet 176
flight 15
food 152, 153
migrants 168
moulting 41
nests 67, 69
dust-bathing 40, 187,
187
Eagle
Booted 34, 68, 164
Crowned 153, 157
Lesser Spotted 164
Martial 146
Steppe 161, 164, 166
Tawny 34, 115
Verreauxs ‘ 14, 21, 66,
68,69, 195
Wahlberg ‘s 34, 66, 161,
188, 195, 195
Eagle-Owl
Cape 25
Spotted 25, 34, 47
Verreaux ‘s 25, 67, 79
eagles
breeding 57
feathers 26
flight 21
nests 64, 66, 66, 78
ears 50, 50, 51, 51
eggs
of brood parasites 120,
120
clutch size 91-94, 91,
92, 93, 94
colour 85-91, 85, 86,
87, 88, 89, 90
formation 82, 82
hatching 100, 100
incubation 83, 94-99,
94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99
overheating 96-97,
104
shape and size 83-84,
83,84
Egret
Cattle 36, 89, 154,
154,190, 190
Little 149
egrets
chicks 102
eggs 89,98
grooming technique
36
nests 64, 66, 80
vision 48
F
faeces see droppings
Faico cuvieri 189
Falcon
Eleonora ‘s 164
Lanner145
Peregrine 16, 16
Pygmy 68, 79
falcons 16, 16, 145, 146
feathers
colour 30-34, 30, 31,
32,33,34,58-59,
58, 59
feather remains 186,
186
in flight 13, 13, 14, 14,
21, 21, 25-26, 25
flight feathers 24,
24,25
functions 25-29, 25,
26,27, 28, 29
preening 35-36, 35,
36, 58
types 24, 24
unique to birds 9,
23,23
feet 174-179, 174, 175,
176, 178, 179
filter feeders 152, 152
Finch
Cuckoo 117, 118, 122
Cut-throat 79
Red-headed 68, 79,
144
finches 58, 107, 144, 180
finchlarks 160
Finfoot, African 189
Firefinch, Red-billed 125
firefinches 118, 120, 125,
134
Fiscal, Common 84, 99,
147, 147, 190
Fish-Eagle, African 127,
145,149, 149
fish-eating birds
148-150, 148, 149,
150, 151
Fishing-Owl, Pel ‘s 26,
145, 149
Flamingo
Greater 152, 152
Lesser 152, 152
flamingos
chicks 112, 115
eggs 94,98
feathers 32
feet 176
filter feeders 152
flight
aerodynamics 12-15,
12,13,14,15
bird ‘s structure 9-11,
10, 11
designs of different
species 16-18, 16, 17
flying styles 18-22
flocks 22, 22, 153, 162
flufftails 132
Flycatcher, Fiscal 33
flycatchers 68, 120
food
bird parties 153
for chicks 110-112,
110,111, 112
Bank 69
Cape 15, 69
cormorants
breathing 11
droppings 180
eggs 89
feet 177, 177
flying technique 14,
15, 21
grooming technique
36
nests 66, 80
sunbathing 38, 39
Coucal, Burchell ‘s 140,
140, 186, 189, 193
coucals 65
Courser
Burchell ‘s 189, 193
Double-banded 91, 92,
97, 97
coursers 77
courtship and mating
56-58, 56, 57, 58
crakes 132
Crane
Blue 57, 94, 103, 176
Wattled 92-93, 93
cranes
breeding 57
eggs 82,98, 100
feet 176
flying technique 14, 18
leucism 33
nests 103
Crombec, Long-billed
73, 73
crombecs 73, 73
crows 184
Cuckoo
African 126
African Emerald 118,
125, 126, 139
Black 126, 139
Common 139
Diderick 117, 122, 123,
123, 124, 126, 139,
156, 161
Great Spotted 226
Jacobin 120, 121,126
Klaas ‘s 116, 119, 126,
132, 188, 193
Levaillant ‘s 126
Red-chested 119, 120,
126, 132,161,173
Thick-billed 120, 120,
121, 126
cuckoos
brood parasite 90, 117,
118,119,121,122,
124-125, 126
brood patch 95
food 156
migration 168, 169,
169
song 133, 136
Cuvier, MF 189
dabchicks 58
Darter, African 35, 38,
38, 39, 49, 49, 66, 89,
148, 148, 177, 180
Delegorgue, Louis
Adolphe Joseph 193
digestive process
152-153, 152, 153
Diomedia exulans 192
Dove
Cape Turtle 84, 99
Laughing 145
Namaqua66, 112, 182
doves
chicks 101, 111-112
droppings 180, 181
eggs 88,98
feet 176, 176
food 145
nests 66, 78
Drongo
Fork-tailed 134, 154
Square-tailed 87
drongos
mimicry 134
nests 65
tails 17
droppings 179-183, 179,
180, 181, 182, 183
Duck
African Black 96
White-faced 37
Yellow-billed 28
ducks
bird ‘rape ‘ 60
droppings 180
eggs 96
feathers 24, 31
feet 176
flight 15
food 152, 153
migrants 168
moulting 41
nests 67, 69
dust-bathing 40, 187,
187
Eagle
Booted 34, 68, 164
Crowned 153, 157
Lesser Spotted 164
Martial 146
Steppe 161, 164, 166
Tawny 34, 115
Verreauxs ‘ 14, 21, 66,
68,69, 195
Wahlberg ‘s 34, 66, 161,
188, 195, 195
Eagle-Owl
Cape 25
Spotted 25, 34, 47
Verreaux ‘s 25, 67, 79
eagles
breeding 57
feathers 26
flight 21
nests 64, 66, 66, 78
ears 50, 50, 51, 51
eggs
of brood parasites 120,
120
clutch size 91-94, 91,
92, 93, 94
colour 85-91, 85, 86,
87, 88, 89, 90
formation 82, 82
hatching 100, 100
incubation 83, 94-99,
94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99
overheating 96-97,
104
shape and size 83-84,
83,84
Egret
Cattle 36, 89, 154,
154,190, 190
Little 149
egrets
chicks 102
eggs 89,98
grooming technique
36
nests 64, 66, 80
vision 48
F
faeces see droppings
Faico cuvieri 189
Falcon
Eleonora ‘s 164
Lanner145
Peregrine 16, 16
Pygmy 68, 79
falcons 16, 16, 145, 146
feathers
colour 30-34, 30, 31,
32,33,34,58-59,
58, 59
feather remains 186,
186
in flight 13, 13, 14, 14,
21, 21, 25-26, 25
flight feathers 24,
24,25
functions 25-29, 25,
26,27, 28, 29
preening 35-36, 35,
36, 58
types 24, 24
unique to birds 9,
23,23
feet 174-179, 174, 175,
176, 178, 179
filter feeders 152, 152
Finch
Cuckoo 117, 118, 122
Cut-throat 79
Red-headed 68, 79,
144
finches 58, 107, 144, 180
finchlarks 160
Finfoot, African 189
Firefinch, Red-billed 125
firefinches 118, 120, 125,
134
Fiscal, Common 84, 99,
147, 147, 190
Fish-Eagle, African 127,
145,149, 149
fish-eating birds
148-150, 148, 149,
150, 151
Fishing-Owl, Pel ‘s 26,
145, 149
Flamingo
Greater 152, 152
Lesser 152, 152
flamingos
chicks 112, 115
eggs 94,98
feathers 32
feet 176
filter feeders 152
flight
aerodynamics 12-15,
12,13,14,15
bird ‘s structure 9-11,
10, 11
designs of different
species 16-18, 16, 17
flying styles 18-22
flocks 22, 22, 153, 162
flufftails 132
Flycatcher, Fiscal 33
flycatchers 68, 120
food
bird parties 153
for chicks 110-112,
110,111, 112
Lamprotomis spp. 31
Lanius collaris 190
Lapwing
Blacksmith 84, 96, 99,
140, 155
Crowned 46, 86, 87,
96, 102, 105, 112
lapwings 69, 103, 106
Lark
Agulhas Clapper 134,
136
Cape Clapper 134, 136
Eastern Clapper 134,
136
Flappet 136
Monotonous 139
Rufous-naped 58, 130
Spike-heeled 92, 107
Stark ‘s 195
larks
chicks 106
courtship 58, 58
nests 69, 77
nomadic lifestyle 162
song, sounds and dis-
play 129, 132,134,
136
tracks 179
varied appearances 129
lek displays 62, 191
Leptoptilos crumeniferus
191, 191
leucism 33, 34
Le Vaillant, Francois 188,
193-194
Longclaw, Cape 140
Lovebird
Black-cheeked 77
Lilian ‘s 77
Rosy-faced 7, 68, 77
lovebirds 71
M
Macrodipteryx vexillarius
191
Mannikin, Bronze 121
Marsh-Harrier
Eurasian 164
Pallid 164
Marsh-Warbler 166
Martin, Brown-throated
189
martins 67, 70, 180
Masked-Weaver
Lesser 74, 75, 76,
102, 124
Southern 50, 76, 76,
90, 122, 123, 123
mating see courtship and
mating
melanin 31, 33-34, 33,
34
migration
destinations 160-165,
260, 161, 162, 163,
164
habitat threats 171,
171
migrants 172-173,
172, 173
navigation 168-170,
769
reasons for 158-160
techniques for
endurance 165-168,
166, 167, 168
use of ultraviolet light
46,170
mimicry 118, 119, 125,
125, 134-135, 134
monocular vision 47-48,
47,48
moorhens 63
moulting 40-41, 40, 41
Mousebird, Speckled
39-40, 39
mousebirds
chicks 107
droppings 181
nests 65
sunbathing 39-40, 39
Mynah, Common 163,
163
N
nectarivores 150-151,
150
Neddicky 140
nests
colonies 80, 80, 91
innate or learned 76
location 76, 77, 78
purposes 77-78
task of building 78-79,
78, 79
types 64-73, 64, 65,
66, 67, 68, 69, 70,
71, 72, 73
weaving 74-76, 74,
75, 76
nictitating membrane
48-49, 49
Nightjar
European 190
Fiery-necked 139
Freckled 83
Pennant-winged 29,
29, 191
nightjars
eggs 88
feathers 7, 29, 36, 36
feeding 142
migration 159
nests 64, 69, 69
nocturnal vision 46
song 132
water-bathing 37
Nycticorax leuconotus 192
0
Oceanites oceaniciis 192
orioles 151
ornithochory 144
Osprey 177
Ostrich, Common
breeding 63, 63
eggs 82, 84, 98, 100
eyes 43, 43
feeding 153, 156, 156
feet 177, 777
flightless birds 9, 9,
26,26
Owl
African Wood 195
Barn 25, 28, 51, 51, 71,
79, 110,184
Owlet, Pearl-spotted 26,
28, 28, 104
owls
chicks 106
feathers 25, 26
feet 177
hearing 51, 51
nests 67, 68, 71
nocturnal vision 46, 47
pellets 183, 185
Oxpecker
Red-billed 138, 154,
154
Yellow-billed 154, 154,
192
oxpeckers
breeding 63
feathers 27
food 141,154,154
nests 71
oystercatchers 102
p
Painted-Snipe, Greater
61, 98
Palm-Swift, African 7,
72, 72, 99, 114
Paradise-Flycatcher,
African 65, 114
Paradise-Whydah, Long-
tailed 56,145
parasitism see brood
parasitism
parrots
feathers 31, 36
feet 177
food 144
nests 71
peacocks 31
pecten 36, 36
Pelican, Great White 18,
19, 115, 148, 148, 164,
777
pelicans
chicks 113, 115
eggs 94
flight 21
migration 167
salt intake 151
pellets 179, 183-185,
183, 184, 185
Penguin
African (Jackass) 35,
41, 41, 148, 748,
190-191, 790
Emperor 112
penguins
chicks 115
feet 776
leucism 33
salt intake 151
Petrel, Pintado 53
petrels
food 147
sense of smell 53, 54
wing shape 76
Philomachus pugnax 188,
191
Pigeon, Eastern Bronze-naped (Delegorgue ‘s)
193
pigeons
chicks 101, 107,
111,112
eggs 98
nests 66, 78
pigment
of eggs 86, 86, 90
in feathers 31-34, 32,
33, 34
pipits 77
Plover
Common Ringed 143,
743,165
Kittlitz ‘s 96, 193, 793
White-fronted 84, 99
plovers
chicks 105
eggs 97
nests 77, 103
plumage see feathers
Podica senegalensis 189
precocial chicks
preening 35-36, 35, 36,
37
Prinia, Roberts ‘ (Warbler)
194
prinias 118
Pteruistes swainsonii 192
Puffback, Black-backed
135,140
Q
Quelea, Red-billed 22,
80, 113, 144, 162, 162
queleas 65
Rail, African 132, 140
rails 132
RAMSAR Convention
171
‘rape ‘ 60
raptors
chicks 102, 104,
110,113
courtship 58
droppings 180
eggs 82, 88
feathers from kill 186
Hying styles 18, 21, 22
food 145-146, 145
incubation of eggs 98
migration 164, 166,
167
nests 66, 107
in pursuit of prey 162
reverse sexual
dimorphism 59
sunbathing 38, 39
vision 44, 44, 48, 48
wing shape 16
Raven, White-necked 68
Reed-Warbler
African 161, 166
Great 138, 138
reverse sexual
dimorphism 59, 61
rhynchokinesis 52
Riparia paludicola 189
Roberts, J Austin 194
Robin
Heuglin ‘s (White-
browed Robin-Chat)
193
White-starred 161
Robin-Chat
Cape^, 64, 119, 126
Chorister 125
White-browed 135,
139,193
robin-chats
droppings 180
eggs 88, 98
feet 176
host species 117, 120
mimicry 134
nests 65, 79
non-migrants 160
song 129
robins 30
Rock-Thrush, Sentinel
161
Roller
European 161
Lilac-breasted 31, 56
rollers 17, 71, 162
Ruff 62,188,191
Ruppell, Eduard 193
Sagittarius serpentarius
192, 192
Sanderling 143, 166, 168
sandgrouse
alarm calls 130
feathers 26-27, 27, 40
food 145
nomadic lifestyle 160,
162
Sandgrouse, Burchell ‘s
27, 189, 193
Sandpiper
Buff-breasted 164
Common 155, ;72
Curlew 143, 143, 159,
760, 161, 166
scavengers 146-147, 146,
180
Scops-Owl, African 34,
51, 138, 140, 140
Secretarybird 64, 68, 79,
79, 146, 176, 192, 292
seed-eaters 144-145, 144,
145, 160, 180
sexual dimorphism
58-59, 58, 59
shearwaters 15, 54
Sheathbill, Greater 164
sheathbills 147
Shelduck, South African
71
Shelley, George Ernest
188, 194
Shrike
Crimson-breasted 34
Red-backed 164, 167
shrikes
feet 176
food 142, 145, 147,
147, 153, 185, 185
host species 117
mimicry 134
nests 65, 68
pellets 184
song and sounds 134,
135,140
siblicide 104-105, 705
skeleton 10, JO
Skimmer, African 53, 97
skimmers 15, 52
skuas 147, 184
smell 53-54, 53, 54
Snipe, African 52, 137,
140
snipes 52, 52
song see bird calls
Sparrow
Cape 33, 78, 123
House 78
Southern Grey-headed
79, 79
Sparrowhawk
Black 34, 102
Little 38
Ovambo 34
sparrowhawks 77, 146
sparrows
droppings 180
feathers 30, 40
feet 276
nests 65
tracks 179
Spheniscus demersus 190,
190
Spinetail, Bohm ‘s 17, 17
spinetails 17, 17
Spoonbill, African 42,
53,66,111
spoonbills 80
spurfowl 176
Spurfowl, Swainson ‘s
128,192
Stanley, Edward Smith
194
Stark, Arthur Cowell 195
Starling
Burchell ‘s 189, 189,
193
Common 122
Greater Blue-eared 31,
138
Pied 83
Violet-backed 63
Wattled 68
starlings
feather colour 30,
31, 31
food 151
host species 117, 120
incubation of eggs 98
mimicry 134
nests 71
Sterna caspla 189
Stilt, Black-winged 84,
84, 97
Stint, Temminck ‘s 194
Stompstertarend 17, 17
Stonechat, African 161,
162
Stork
Abdim ‘s 161, 161
African Openbilled 22
Marabou 7, 38, 135,
136, 146, 146,147,
157, 176, 182, 182,
191, 191
Saddle-billed 35, 50,
59, 59
White 33, 78, 161,
164, 176
Yellow-billed 42,
52, 53
storks
bill-snapping 135
chicks 104
droppings 180
eggs 82, 98
in Right 21, 22
migration 162, 164,
166, 167
nests 66
pellets 184
sunbathing 38, 38
Storm-Petrel, Wilson ‘s
192
storm-petrels 54
Strix woodfordii 195
Sugarbird, Cape 181
sugarbirds 79, 150, 151
sunbathing 38-40, 38, 39
Sunbird
Marico 65
Olive 116, 119
Scarlet-chested 150
Southern Double-
collared 30, 150
sunbirds
feathers 30, 31, 59
host species 117
hovering 19
incubation of eggs 98
nectar-feeding species
150-151, 150
nests 65, 68, 78, 79
pursuit of flowering
plants 162
Swainson, W 192
Swallow
Barn 158, 161
Blue 71
Greater Striped 67, 161
Lesser Striped 17,
67, 79
Mosque 67
Pearl-breasted 67
swallows
droppings 180
flying technique 12, 18
food 142
incubation of eggs 98
migration 159
nests 67, 67, 78, 80
tail 17, 17
vision 44
water-bathing 37
wing shape 16
Swamphen, American
Purple 164
swans 30,57
Swift
Alpine 83
White-rumped 111
Swiftlets, Edible-nest 72
swifts
bristles 29
chicks 101, 111
flying technique 12, 18
food 111, 142
migration 159, 163
nests 72, 72, 78, 80
song and sounds 131
tail 17
vision 44
water-bathing 37
wing shape 16
taste 52
tchagras 133
Temminck, Jacob 194
Tern
Arctic 164-165, 165
Caspian 189
Whiskered 101
terns
breeding 58
‘ chicks 102
feet 776
food 147
migration 161
nests 69
thermals 21, 22, 22,
167-168
Thick-knee
Spotted 106
Water 46, 109, 155
thick-knees 105, ;76
Thrush
Groundscraper 85
Kurrichane 47, 82
Olive 33, 33, 131
thrushes
droppings 180
eggs 88,98
feet 176
flying technique 19
food 153
host species 120
nests 65, 79
non-migrants 160
Tinkerbird, Yellow-
fronted 144
tinkerbirds 71, 144
Tit
Cape Penduline 7,
73, 73
Southern Black 106
tits 71
touch 52-53, 52
Trachyphonus vaillantii
194
tracks 174-179, 174,
175, 176, 178, 179,
187
Trogon, Narina 191
trogons 110
tropicbirds 147
turacos
droppings 107, 181
eggs 84
feathers 32
nests 66
non-migrants 160
Turnstone, Ruddy 166
twinspots 120, 125
Rtippell ‘s 165
White-backed 146, 147
White-headed 147
vultures
droppings 182
flight 14, 21, 22, 167
food 146-147
u
ultraviolet light
detection 46
undulating flight 18, 19
urohydrosis 182
Y
vagrants 164
Verreaux, Jean Baptiste
195
Vidiia macroura 191
vision
colour vision 45-46, 45
detection of ultraviolet
light 46
eyes 43-44, 43, 44, 45,
50, 50
monocular vs binocu-
lar 47-48, 47, 48
nocturnal 46-47, 46
Vulture
Bearded 21, 21, 90,
153, 156,189,189
Cape 68, 80
Egyptian 156, 156
Hooded 147, 157
Lappet-faced 147
Palm-Nut 157
y
waders
bill marks 185, 185
bills 143
calls 131
and crocodiles 155
feathers 59
feet 176
incubation of eggs 98
migration 161, 166,
167,168
pellets 184
sense of touch 52, 53
Wagtail, Cape 63
wagtails
droppings 180
eggs 94
flight 19
host species 117
Wahlberg, Johan August
188,195
Warbler, Roberts ‘ 194
warblers
food 142
host species 117
leaf-bathing 37
migration 168
nests 65
song and calls 130, 132
water-bathing 37, 38
Waxbill
Blue 78, 99
Orange-breasted 79,
121,121
Violet-eared 120
waxbills
feet 176
host species 118
nests 78
seed-eaters 144
Weaver
Cape 76, 78
Dark-backed 76
Golden 76
Parasitic see Finch,
Cuckoo
Red-headed 76, 76
Sociable 7, 68, 68, 79
Southern Brown-
throated 76
Spectacled 74, 76, 123
Thick-billed 74, 76, 76
Village 57, 74, 75, 76
Yellow 76
weavers
breeding 57, 59, 60
chicks 113
eggs 90
feathers 30
feet 176
food 151
host species 117
nests 57, 57, 65,
74-76, 74, 75, 76,
78, 80
Wheatear, Capped 71
White-eye
African Yellow 117
Cape 6, 114, 130
white-eyes
food 144, 151
host species 117
mimicry 134
nests 65
water-bathing 37
Whydah
Paradise 56
Pin-tailed 60, 191
Shaft-tailed 120
whydahs
breeding 59, 62
brood parasite 117,
118, 119,121,122
Widowbird
Long-tailed 29, 61,
61, 129
Red-collared 29
widowbirds
breeding 59, 60
nests 78, 80
song and display 129
wings
different designs 16, 16
in flight 12-15, 12, 13
Wood-Dove, Emerald-
spotted 41, 138, 139
Woodford, EJA 195
Wood-Hoopoe, Green
36, 62,182
wood-hoopoes 120
Woodpecker
Bearded 137, 137
Golden-tailed 190
woodpeckers
drumming sound 137
feathers 27, 27
feet 177
flying technique 19
food 142, 142
holes in trees 186, 186
host species 117, 120
nests 71
Woodward, Robert &
John 188, 195