-
Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.
Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
namibia
-
Impala (Aepyceros melampus)
This is the race "A. m. petersi" also known as the Black-faced Impala which is restricted to northwestern Namibia and southwestern Angola. It was introduced into Etosha as part of a conservation program. The black markings on its nose and below its eyes as well is its larger size and overall...- jmorlan
- Media item
- aepyceros melampus impala namibia
- Comments: 1
- Category: Wild Mammals
-
Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus)
A unique antelope in its own genus. Note the elongated forehead from which the horns grow and the hunched back. These are the subspecies "A. b. caama" usually called "Red Hartebeest." Some authorities split it as a separate species called Cape Hartebeest. Males and females are similar, but the...- jmorlan
- Media item
- alcelaphus buselaphus hartebeest namibia
- Comments: 1
- Category: Wild Mammals
-
Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros)
Sporting amazing spiral horns, the name "Kudu" is the Khoikhoi name for this large woodland antelope. Kudus in Namibia are the nominate race "T. s. strepsiceros," sometimes called "Southern Greater Kudu" or even split as "Cape Kudu." These are males. Females lack horns and beards.- jmorlan
- Media item
- greater kudu namibia tragelaphus strepsiceros
- Comments: 0
- Category: Wild Mammals
-
Gray-backed Sparrow-Lark
Another near-endemic member of the lark family (Alaudidae), this is a well-marked male. Females are incredibly drab with a small black belly patch. Sparrow-Larks are a group of seven species of small African sexually dimorphic larks in the genus Eremopterix which resemble finches. Etosha is...- jmorlan
- Media item
- eremopterix verticalis gray-backed sparrow-lark namibia
- Comments: 2
- Category: Africa
-
Cape Teal
Sometimes called "Cape Wigeon", the finely speckled head is visible only at close range. Distribution is patchy with populations in West and East Africa isolated. Monotypic. Sexes are similar although females have smaller chest spots and paler bill. Sometimes placed in the genus "Nettion."- jmorlan
- Media item
- anas capensis cape teal namibia
- Comments: 1
- Category: Africa
-
Blue Crane
The national bird of South Africa, this spectacular Southern African endemic is said to be the world's most range-restricted crane. It is listed as vulnerable due to recent population declines attributed largely to accidental poisoning in agricultural fields. All cranes have elongated tertials...- jmorlan
- Media item
- anthropoides paradiseus blue crane namibia
- Comments: 1
- Category: Africa
-
Burchell's Sandgrouse
A near Southern Africa endemic, this is a female with a yellowish face. Males have a gray face with yellow spectacles and reddish underparts. Sandgrouse are not actually a type of grouse but a unique ancient lineage now placed not only in their own family (Pteroclidae) but in their own order...- jmorlan
- Media item
- burchell's sandgrouse namibia pterocles burchelli
- Comments: 1
- Category: Africa
-
Burchell's Courser
Similar to Temminck's Courser, Burchell's is larger and has a blue-gray patch on its hind-crown. A near Southern Africa endemic, this nomadic species prefers sparse grassland, burned areas and gravel deserts.- jmorlan
- Media item
- burchell's courser cursorius rufus namibia
- Comments: 1
- Category: Africa
-
African Wildcat (Felis lybica)
Hiding among rocks, stalking birds at the edge of a waterhole, African Wildcat is believed to be the direct ancestor of the Domestic Cat based on mtDNA analysis. It is classified as "vulnerable" with hybridization with domestic cat's one of the main threats. The population here in Southern...- jmorlan
- Media item
- african wildcat felis lybica namibia
- Comments: 3
- Category: Wild Mammals
-
Southern Gray-headed Sparrow
A large rather uncommon African sparrow is a member of the Old World or "true" sparrow family (Passeridae). They are not closely related to native American sparrows which are in the family Emberizidae. This is presumably the nominate subspecies. The bill is black in the breeding season, but...- jmorlan
- Media item
- namibia passer diffusus southern gray-headed sparrow
- Comments: 2
- Category: Africa
-
Blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus)
Identified by the white blaze on its forehead and on the front of its face. We saw four of these animals around our lodge. Apparently they were hunted to the verge of extinction until a rancher collected the last 17 animals remaining and put them in a protective enclosure. They breed well in...- jmorlan
- Media item
- blesbok damaliscus pygargus namibia
- Comments: 0
- Category: Wild Mammals
-
Pearl-spotted Owlet
Widespread but scattered in sub-saharan Africa, this was the most common diurnal owl we encountered. The similar African Barred Owlet is larger and has bars (not spots) on its head. This is presumably the paler "G. p. diurnum" which ranges widely from Sudan to Northern Namibia.- jmorlan
- Media item
- glaucidium perlatum namibia pearl-spotted owlet
- Comments: 2
- Category: Africa
-
Burnt-neck Eremomela
A small, plain warbler in the Cisticola family (Cisticolidae). Note the distinctive pale-lemon eye. This is an adult based on the trace of the rusty bar across the breast which give it the name "burnt-neck." The genus name "Eremomela" is from the Greek and means "desert song."- jmorlan
- Media item
- burnt-neck eremomela eremomela usticollis namibia
- Comments: 0
- Category: Africa
-
Southern Pied-Babbler
This distinctive monotypic species prefers thornveld habitat. Its last name is sometimes unhyphenated as "Pied Babbler" and sometimes spelled with partial lower case "Pied-babbler." Also sometimes called "Bicoloured Babbler."- jmorlan
- Media item
- namibia southern pied-babbler turdoides bicolor
- Comments: 2
- Category: Africa
-
Red-necked Falcon
The African and Indian forms are split by some authors, but now considered one species. An uncommon bird of open country, their hunting style recalls that of the Merlin. In fact this species is sometimes called the "Red-headed Merlin." The amount of rufous across the chest is variable and absent...- jmorlan
- Media item
- falco chicquera namibia red-necked falcon
- Comments: 5
- Category: Africa
-
Red-capped Lark
This is an adult. Juveniles lack the red cap and breast patches. This species was formerly lumped with Blanford's Lark (Calandrella blanfordi), and Erlanger's Lark (Calandrella erlangeri); sometimes all three further lumped with the widespread Greater Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla).- jmorlan
- Media item
- calandrella cinerea namibia red-capped lark
- Comments: 1
- Category: Africa
-
Kalahari Scrub-Robin
They have a very expressive cocked-up tail which is often rocked back and forth sideways. The lack of white on the wing and lack of breast streaking help separate this species from the similar Red-backed Scrub-Robin. Sometimes placed in the genus "Erythropygia." Scrub-Robins are members of the...- jmorlan
- Media item
- cercotrichas paena kalahari scrub-robin namibia
- Comments: 2
- Category: Africa
-
Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)
Critically endangered by poaching driven by the idiotic belief that rhino horn makes men potent. We were fortunate to see several of these fascinating animals including this mother and calf. There are only about 3,000 mature animals left in the wild. Note the hooked upper lip which helps...- jmorlan
- Media item
- black rhinoceros diceros bicornis namibia
- Comments: 2
- Category: Wild Mammals
-
African Harrier-Hawk
A large raptor usually showing a naked yellow face but in this individual it is flushed red. This is an adult., gray with a bushy crest. They specialize in eating eggs and nestlings of other birds. In fact they have double-jointed intertarsal joints allowing access to nest holes. Presumably the...- jmorlan
- Media item
- african harrier-hawk namibia polyboroides typus
- Comments: 1
- Category: Africa
-
Cape Crombec
A peculiar looking bird, it is a member of the African Warbler family, Macrosphenidae now split from the Silviidae warblers. Also called "Long-billed Crombec," this tiny almost tailless warbler was tricky to photograph as it foraged in dense vegetation, occasionally hanging like a mini-nuthatch...- jmorlan
- Media item
- cape crombec namibia sylvietta rufescens
- Comments: 0
- Category: Africa
-
Bare-cheeked Babbler
A distinctive brown, and white babbler with a rufous nape and crazed look in its eyes. Note the bare black skin patches on its cheeks that give it its name. A near endemic, they are locally distributed in Namibia and adjacent Angola. This is the only place we encountered them.- jmorlan
- Media item
- namibia turdoides gymnogenys
- Comments: 2
- Category: Africa
-
Steenbok (Raphicerus campestris)
This fairly common small but big-eared antelope of southern and eastern Africa is sometimes known as the Steinbuck or Steinbok. We usually saw these shy animals by themselves and well hidden. This one is a female. Males have short spiked horns. Two populations are widely separated. Southern...- jmorlan
- Media item
- namibia raphicerus campestris steenbok
- Comments: 2
- Category: Wild Mammals
-
Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis)
Here two young male Springbok are locking horns at a water hole in what appeared to be a play-fight. Also known as "Springbuck" they inhabit the dry areas of south and southwestern Africa. Based on range this is presumably the race "A. m. hofmeyri" characterized by light fawn color with thin...- jmorlan
- Media item
- antidorcas marsupialis namibia springbok
- Comments: 0
- Category: Wild Mammals
-
African Bush Elephant (Loxodonta africana)
Etosha NP is famous for its "White Elephants." The name Etosha means great white place because of the white clay which covers the extensive Etosha pan. Local elephants cover themselves with this clay. Apparently some tourists think these white elephants are marble statues. Others think they are...- jmorlan
- Media item
- african bush elephant loxodonta africana namibia
- Comments: 1
- Category: Wild Mammals
-
Double-banded Courser
Here is another cryptic denizen of arid grasslands. Coursers are elegant plover-like birds included with the Pratincoles in the family Glareolidae. This is the sole member of the genus "Smutsornis," but some authors include it with other coursers in the genus "Rhinoptilus" while SASOL puts it...- jmorlan
- Media item
- double-banded courser namibia smutsornis africanus
- Comments: 2
- Category: Africa