need bird i.d. please (1 Viewer)

glazzers

Well-known member

• Sep 12, 2003

• #1

I am a novice at birding but love the photography of birds. Can someone please help with the identification of this bird. photograph taken in Kruger Park, South Africa in August 2003

 

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Michael Frankis

conehead

• Sep 12, 2003

• #2

I'll have a guess at a Monticola species (rockthrush), most likely Sentinel Rock Thrush (M. explorator) , but Sal or Robert in SA should give you a better idea soon

Michael

 

Last edited: Sep 12, 2003

L

logos

Well-known member

• Sep 12, 2003

• #3

Short-toed Rock Thrush (Monticola brevipes).

Spud

 

glazzers

Well-known member

• Sep 12, 2003

• #4

logos and michael. according to my SA book the short-toed rock thrush is not found in the Kruger area so it probably is more likely to be the male Sentiel Rock Thrush ????

Thanks guys for the info.

 

L

logos

Well-known member

• Sep 12, 2003

• #5

Maybe, but the SASOL Birds of Southern Africa describes a variable white cap as diagnostic of Short-toed. I wonder if the crown of Sentinel could bleach paler in the sun though.

Spud

 

L

logos

Well-known member

• Sep 12, 2003

• #6

Which guide are you using Glazzers? Just checked in the SASOL (which is normally regarded as the best in reviews) and neither of the possible species appears to occur within the Kruger area!?

Spud

 

Michael Frankis

conehead

• Sep 12, 2003

• #7

When I looked in my Thrushes book, my first thought was Short-toed because of the pale crown, but I deleted that (hence the edit mark on the post!) in favour of Sentinel when I looked at the range maps. I concluded that the pale crown could just be either sunlight glinting off the crown, and/or bleached feathering

Thrushes maps Sentinel much more widespread in northeast South Africa, but it is of course a very small-scale map that won't show local variations in presence.

Michael

 

L

logos

Well-known member

• Sep 12, 2003

• #8

I don't think the crown colour can be just a lighting effect. If it is a Sentinel Rock Thrush with a bleached crown I'd like to know so I can make a note in the SASOL guide.

Only ever birded in the Capetown area but would love to get to Kruger next time around.

Spud

 

safariranger

Well-known member

• Sep 12, 2003

• #9

Sentinel Rock Thrush - Nice photo, I can confirm that it is Monticola explorator. It is typical of the southern Kruger region, however I must say that as it is a species which prefers the more mountainous terrain, it is more commonly seen along the Drakensberg Escarpment adjacent to the Kruger. I have personally never seen a Rock Thrush in the Kruger itself, and without boasting that is in over 250 visits to the park.
Was it perhaps seen in the nearby Blyde River Canyon area?
Looking at all 4 species found in South Africa, the only other Rock Thrush it could be confused with would be the Short-toed, however this species is more confined to the drier arid regions and has a distinctive white cap, which I think is reflective sunlight in the picture above.

Robert

 

glazzers

Well-known member

• Sep 13, 2003

• #10

robertwienand. Thanks forthe comments. This photo was definately taken inside the Kruger Park.

 

glazzers

Well-known member

• Sep 13, 2003

• #11

logos. I am using SASol

 

glazzers

Well-known member

• Sep 13, 2003

• #12

Gentlemen. I appear humbled. I have just checked my photographs again and seem to have made a mistake in the catelogue. I can now confirm that this photo was NOT taken inside Kruger Park, it was taken inside Pilanesberg National Park.
SORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRY !!!

 

L

logos

Well-known member

• Sep 13, 2003

• #13

Hi Glazzers,

Doesn't that mean that the bird is within the core range of Short-toed but just outside the range of Sentinel?

Spud

 

glazzers

Well-known member

• Sep 13, 2003

• #14

Logos

I think you could be right and looking as close as I can at the photo I think it has a pale top on its head which the book says should be the Short- Toed ???

 

L

logos

Well-known member

• Sep 13, 2003

• #15

I do feel that the pale crown on this bird looks like a genuine feature rather than a lighting effect (the shape of the pale area doesn't seem to correspond with the contours of the head). That said I'll happily bow to Robert's far greater experience of the two species if he still feels it's a Sentinel now that the true location is known.

Do you recall what habitat it was in?

Spud

 

glazzers

Well-known member

• Sep 13, 2003

• #16

logos. It was sitting on a small tree in the Pilanesberg National Park which is mainly open grassland a bit like kruger park but not as bushy

 

Michael Frankis

conehead

• Sep 13, 2003

• #17

I know where Kruger NP is, but not Pilanesberg NP - whereabouts is it?

Michael

 

L

logos

Well-known member

• Sep 13, 2003

• #18

Rough map on this page:

http://www.places.co.za/html/gamelodges_home.html


Spud

 

Michael Frankis

conehead

• Sep 13, 2003

• #19

Thanks Spud! So our first goes were right after all . . .

Michael

 

Steve

Member

Staff member

• Sep 14, 2003

• #20

I have been to the pilansberg reserve dozens of times, when I stayed downroute in J/burg, I have to tell you I was very dissapointed every time, saw a smattering of gazelle, a young female giraffe, a hippo, loads of bee eaters and thats about it?
The best bit was Sun city, great place but deserted? hogged the pool and wave machine every time!! I will post some pics tomorrow.