Peacocks & Picathartes. Reflections on Africa's Birdlife

Title: Peacocks & Picathartes
Subtitle: Reflections on Africa's Birdlife
Author: Rupert Watson
Publisher: Penguin Random House South Africa
Imprint: Struik Nature
Cape Town, South Africa 2020
ISBN 9781775845607 / ISBN 978-1-77-584560-7
Softcover, 15 x 23 cm, 216 pages, numerous drawings

About: Peacocks & Picathartes. Reflections on Africa's Birdlife

Both informative and entertaining, Peacocks & Picathartes is a celebration of Africa's diverse birdlife and examines not only the continent's endemic bird families, but also those birds that, despite being more widespread, are quintessential African. Watson's anecdotal style vividly captures his encounters with prized species, such as the secretive White-necked Picathartes and the elusive Congo Peacock. His enthusiasm extends from the common to the extraordinary: he conveys the sheer delight mousebirds take in 'being what they are' and reveals the surprise discovery in 1991 of a new partridge in Tanzania's Udzungwa Mountains.

Drawing on precolonial and current-day avian accounts, he offers his own insights based on a lifetime of personal observations in the wilds of Africa, recounting unforgettable expeditions, quirky bird behaviour, shifting taxonomy, moments of rare good luck, and much more. Rupert Watson was born in England but has lived in Kenya for over 40 years where he practises variably as a lawyer, mediator, naturalist and writer. His work has taken him to many parts of Africa, providing every opportunity to indulge his lifelong fascination for birds. He has authored several books, including The African Baobab and Culture Clash, and written many articles, largely on natural history, for a variety of publications.

Content: Peacocks & Picathartes. Reflections on Africa's Birdlife

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
PREFACE
THE BIRDS 8 THEIR LAND
ONLY IN AFRICA
Ostriches
Guineafowl
Hamerkop
Shoebill
Secretarybird
Egyptian Plover
Turacos
Mousebirds
Wood Hoopoes
Ground Hornbills
African Barbets
Batises & Wattle-eyes
Helmetshrikes
Bushshrikes
Picathartes / Rockfowl
Rockjumpers
Nicators
Crombecs, Longbills & allies
Yellow Flycatchers
Dapple-throat & allies
Sugarbirds
Hyliotas
Oxpeckers
Whydahs, Indigobirds & the Cuckoo-finch
Without a family
MAINLY IN AFRICA
Bustards
Flufftails
Sandgrouse
Coursers & Pratincoles
Bee-eaters
Honey guides
Cisticolas
Weavers & Widowbirds
SIX SPECIAL SPECIES
Egyptian Goose
Udzungwa Forest Partridge
Congo Peacock
Bateleur
African Fish Eagle
Hadadalbis
CONSERVATION
CELEBRATION
INSPIRATION
INFORMATION
BIBLIOGRAPHY
FURTHER READING