ID help for 2 African Birds (1 Viewer)

D

Dave B Smith

Well-known member

• Feb 19, 2004

• #1

These photos were taken by a friend and he has not been able to ID them. Can anyone help? Both were in Kenya.
The Starling sp? was taken at Lake Nakuru and the other was taken at "The Ark Tree Tops".
Thanks,

 

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E

Edward woodwood

Member

• Feb 19, 2004

• #2

Ploceus Weaver

probably P. baglafechti - a very variable species

 

cuckooroller

Registered User

• Feb 19, 2004

• #3

Looks like one of the Lamprotornis starlings. These are two for helenh, much more expert.

 

E

Edward woodwood

Member

• Feb 19, 2004

• #4

with the tail and throat band I'd go for Ruppell's Long-tailed Starling.............

 

H

helenh

Well-known member

• Feb 19, 2004

• #5

I agree with Tim and Steve - you've got Lamprotornis purpuropterus (Rüppell's Long-tailed Starling) in picture 1. The white eye and long tail is a give-away with the glossy starlings. In picture 2 you've got Baglafecht Weaver (Ploceus baglafecht) - it's a male (distinguished by the yellow on the head - the female has an all black crown). It's almost certainly ssp reichenowi, which used to be treated almost as a separate species (Reichenow's Weaver). It looks like it could be a juvenile coming into adult breeding plumage - the juvie doesn't show the yellow crown. I've got a photo of a similarly manky specimen on my website at http://www.kenyabirds.org.uk/reichenow.htm

 

E

Edward woodwood

Member

• Feb 20, 2004

• #6

Hi Helen

thanks for the confirmation. We don't seem to have many birders knowlegeble on Kenyan birding....Good job you're here. Some of your Kenyan birding days must warrant a place on BF somewhere......

 

D

Dave B Smith

Well-known member

• Feb 20, 2004

• #7

Tim, Steve, and Helen,
Thanks to all of y'all for the help in these ID's. Talk about a great Birding Resource!

 

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helenh

Well-known member

• Feb 20, 2004

• #8

Tim Allwood said:

Hi Helen

thanks for the confirmation. We don't seem to have many birders knowlegeble on Kenyan birding....Good job you're here. Some of your Kenyan birding days must warrant a place on BF somewhere......

Click to expand...

Sadly I only get to have "Kenyan birding days" once a year when we make our annual birding trip. The rest of the year my Kenyan birding days are confined to agonising over what species/race we've captured on our photos .... and feeling very envious when we get the latest sightings from Kenya to include on our website!

I'm not such much knowledgeable as sad ..... I'll use any excuse to practise id'ing Kenyan species.

Cheers
Helen