RED-WINGED STARLING

356         RED-WINGED STARLING              Onychognathus morio

South Africa      (49)

Known in Afrikaans as the rooivlerkspreeu. Range down eastern Africa from Ethiopia to the Cape in South Africa. 27-30 cm. Found in many habitats, including forest, savannah, grassland, wetland, fynbos, farmland and commercial plantations, as well as urban environments.

GREY WAXBILL

355            GREY WAXBILL            Estrilda perreini

South Africa            (48)

Also known as Black-tailed Waxbill. Ranges over wetter land of southern Africa, in particuar eastern coastal strip. Found in subtropical/tropical (lowland) moist shrublands.

COMMON WAXBILL

354              COMMON WAXBILL           Estrilda astrild

South Africa         (47)

Also known as the St Helena Waxbill. 11 cm. Native to sub-Saharan Africa but has been introduced to many other regions of the world, popular cage bird. Found in open country with long grass and rank vegetation, often near water in marshes and in reeds, can be tame and found in parks and gardens.

LESSER STRIPED SWALLOW

253             LESSER STRIPED SWALLOW         Cecropis abyssinica

South Africa           (46)

15-19 cm. Found in wooded, mainly lowland habitats, also commonly found around human habitats. Range sub-Saharan Africa from Sierra Leone and southern Sudan into eastern South Africa.

BROWN SNAKE-EAGLE

Photographed in the act of devouring a large snake at iMfolosi, South Africa

352         BROWN SNAKE-EAGLE          Circaetus cinereus

South Africa            (45)

Ranges across southern and eastern Africa. Feeds mainly on snakes, including venemous snakes, also lizards and all mammals. Only lays one egg per year, lives 6 to 7 years. 60-70 cm.

COMMON MOORHEN

351            COMMON MOORHEN       Gallinule chloropus

South Africa           (44)

Also known as the Swamp Chicken. Found well-vegetated marshes, ponds, canals and other wetlands. Ranges from NW Europe to North Africa and eastward to Siberia and from humid regions of Indian sub-continent and SE Asia to Japan. 30-38 cm.

SPECKLED MOUSEBIRD

350           SPECKLED MOUSEBIRD             Colius striatus

South Africa            (43)

35 cm. Ranges from Cameroon east to Eritrea and Ethiopia, south through eastern Africa to southern South Africa. Found in many habitat, except rainforest and the more arid areas. Often seen in urban areas.

BLACK-WINGED KITE

349           BLACK-WINGED KITE       Elanus caeruleus

South Africa          (42)

Also known as Black-shouldered Kite, once considered as part of one species with Australian Black-shouldered Kite and the White-tailed Kite of North and South America. Ranges open land and semi-desert in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical Asia, and established in Spain and Portugal, expanding in southern Europe. 

AFRICAN OPENBILL

348           AFRICAN OPENBILL             Anastomus lamelligerus

South Africa          (41)

74-90 cm. Ranges across the ne of southern Africa and further north. Found at freshwater lakes and dams. Feeds mainly on freshwater snails.

EGYPTIAN GOOSE

347          EGYPTIAN GOOSE              Alopochen aegyptiaca

South Africa            (40)

Native to Africa south of the Sahara and the Nile Valley. Considered sacred by Ancient Egyptians, raised for food. Popular and escapees established small feral populations in Europe. 63-73 cm. Various habitat, except desert and thick jungle.

CRESTED GUINEAFOWL

346         CRESTED GUINEAFOWL            Guttera pucherani

South Africa         (39)

Found in open forest, woodlands and forest-savanna in sub-Saharan Africa. 50 cm. 

CROWNED HORNBILL

345               CROWNED HORNBILL             Tockus alboterminatus

South Africa        (38)

50-54 cm. Range along southern and eastern coastal regions to ne Africa. Found in coastal and ravine forests.

SENEGAL COUCAL

344            SENEGAL COUCAL        Centropus senegalensis

South Africa          (37)

Widespread throughout Africa, except for the nw and into south Arabia. Found in grassy habitats with trees, such as bush and savannah. 39 cm.