GREY HERON

370           GREY HERON          Ardea cinerea

South Africa          (63)

Native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and southern Africa. Up to 100 cm tall and 84-102 cm long.

COMMON QUAIL

369           COMMON QUAIL         Coturnix coturnix

South Africa         (62)

18-21.9 cm. Widespread throughout Africa and in parts of Europe. Always on the ground, in grasslands, fields and crops, where it feeds on seeds.

GOLIATH HERON

368          GOLIATH HERON         Ardea goliath

South Africa            (61)

Also known as Giant Heron. Range sub-Saharan Africa, and Southwest and South Asia. The world's largest heron at 120-152 cm, wingspan 185-230 cm. Rarely ventures far from water, prefers to fly along water rather than across land. Found lakes, swamps, mangrove wetlands, reefs and sometimes river deltas.

YELLOW-BILLED STORK

367           YELLOW-BILLED STORK            Mycteria ibis

South Africa              (60)

Range across Africa south of the Sahara and in Madagascar. 97 cm.

AFRICAN HARRIER HAWK

African Harrier Hawk, juvenile

366           AFRICAN HARRIER HAWK            Poyboroides typus

South Africa         (59)

Also known as Harrier Hawk or Gymnogene. 60-66 cm. Range most of Africa south of Sahara. An unusual trait is that it has double-jointed knees, this enables it to reach into holes and cracks in trees searching for prey. Found in woodlands, tree plantations and urban areas.

HADEDA IBIS

365               HADEDA IBIS         Bostrychia hagedash

South Africa         (58)

76 cm. found in sub-Sahara Africa. Found in open grassland, savanna and wetlands, also urban parks, school fields, green corridors and large gardens.

AFRICAN SPOONBILL

364          AFRICAN SPOONBILL           Platalea alba

South Africa        (57)

Widespread across Africa and Madagascar. Lives in marshy wetlands with some open shallow water.

WHITE-FACED WHISTLING DUCK

363            WHITE-FACED WHISTLING DUCK             Dendrocygna viduata

South Africa         (56)

Breeds in sub-Saharan Afica and much of South America.

WHITE-FRONTED BEE-EATER

362            WHITE-FRONTED BEE-EATER           Merops bullockoides

South Africa            (55)

Widely distributed in sub-equatorial Africa. Habitat is vast savannah region, commonly open country near gullies. Live in clan colonies.

LITTLE BEE-EATER

361             LITTLE BEE-EATER            Merops pusillus

South Africa                (54)

Ranges over much of sub-Saharan Africa. 15-17 cm. Found in open country  with bushes, preferably near water.

LILAC-BREASTED ROLLER

360       LILAC-BREASTED ROLLER          Coracias caudatus

South Africa              (53)

Ranges widely in sub-Saharan Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsular. Found in open woodlands and savanna, avoids treeless places.

COMMON BULBUL

359            COMMON BULBUL               Pycnonotus barbatus

South Africa          (52)

Also known as Black-eyed Bulbul, and Common Garden Bulbul. Ranges over much of Africa. Found in woodlands, coastal bush, forest edges, riverine bush, montane scrub, mixed farming areas, parks and gardens..

GREY-HEADED GULL

358           GREY-HEADED GULL            Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus

South Africa             (51)

Also known as the Grey-hooded Gull. Breeds in South America and Africa south of the Sahara. Breeds large colonies in roadbeds and marshes. Found in coastal or estuarine areas, but rarely at sea. 42 cm.

AFRICAN JACANA

357           AFRICAN JACANA                Actophilornis africanus

South Africa         (50)

30 cm. Found in sub-Saharan Africa. This bird has unusual breeding system. It is polyandrous, the female has a harem. She mates and lays eggs. The male cares for these eggs and the chicks when hatched. He can pick up the chicks under his wings to move them around. She may lay a brood of eggs for other males.