WHITE-THROATED KINGFISHER

332            WHITE-THROATED KINGFISHER            Halcyon smyrnensis

Nepal           (9)

Also known the White-breasted Kingfisher and Smyrna Kingfisher. Ranges in Eurasia from Bulgaria, Turkey, West Asia east through the Indian subcontinent to Philippines. Can be found well away from water, feeding on small lizards, amphibians, crabs, and small rodents. 28 cm.

BLUE-EARED KINGFISHER

Taken on a very foggy day on the river in Chitwan, Nepal

331          BLUE-EARED KINGFISHER           Alcedo meninting

Nepal      (8)

Ranges across Asia from Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, including Malaysia.. Found in dense shaded forests, hunting in small streams. 16 cm. 

PIED KINGFISHER

Photographed in Chitwan, Nepal

330          PIED KINGFISHER          Ceryle rudis

Nepal        (7)

Range across Asia and Africa. 17 cm. Estimated to be world's third most common kingfisher. Flies at speeds up to 32 k/h.

Photographed in Chitwan, Nepal

Photographed in Chitwan, Nepal

Photographed in Zululand, South Africa

ORIENTAL WHITE-EYE

329          ORIENTAL WHITE-EYE               Zosterops palpebrosus

Nepal         (6)

Ranges from Indian subcontinent to Southeast Asia, extending to Indonesia and Malaysia. Found in open woodland in tropical Asia. 8-9 cm.

CITRINE WAGTAIL

Photographed in Pokhara, Nepal

328          CITRINE WAGTAIL            Motacilla citreola

Nepal           (5)

Also known as Yellow-headed Wagtail. 15.5-17 cm. Range across Asia but expanding into western Europe. Found in wet meadows and tundra.

AFRICAN HOOPOE

327           AFRICAN HOOPOE          Upupa africanus

South Africa        (33)

Range across Europe, Tropical Asia, Madagascar and Africa except in western and central equatorial lowland forests. 25-29 cm, wingspan 44-48 cm, 65-67 g. Found in open and bushy areas, parks and gardens, thorn veld and riverine woodlands. Call distinctive 'hoo-poo' repeated 5 or 6 times.

BLACK-COLLARED BARBET

326         BLACK-COLLARED BARBET             Lybius torquatus

South Africa       (32)

Ranges across sub-Saharan Africa. 20-25 cm. Found in forest, woodlands, savanna and gardens, will often visit plantations eating fruits and vegetables.   

WHITE-EARED BARBET

325        WHITE-EARED BARBET               Stactolaema leucotis

South Africa        (31)         

18 cm, 48-60 g. Range along eastern strip of southern Africa. Found in coastal forest and bush, often near wetlands.

AFRICAN PIED WAGTAIL

324           AFRICAN PIED WAGTAIL            Motacilla aguimp

South Africa           (30)

Range across most of western southern Africa, with pockets in the west. 20 cm, 27 g. Resident along riversland wetlands, including coastal lagoons, also in parks and gardens.

CARDINAL WOODPECKER

323           CARDINAL WOODPECKER          Dendropicus fuscescens

South Africa       (29)

14-16 cm, 20-36 g. Range: widespread in much of sub-Saharan Africa. Found in a wide range of habitats from dense forest to thorn bush.

RED-FACED MOUSEBIRD

322           RED-FACED MOUSEBIRD           Urocolius indicus

South Africa        (28)

34 cm, 40-70 g. Species of mousebird or coly. Range common in southern Africa from Zaire, Zambia and Tanzania to the Cape. Found in savanna with thickets, fynbos scrub and other open woodland, gardens and orchards.

GREEN-WINGED PYTILIA

321        GREEN-WINGED PYTILIA            Pytilia melba

South Africa            (27)

Range across most of Africa south of Sahara. 13 cm, 9-19 g. Found in acacia savanna and dry woodlands.

Hen bird