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namibia

  1. Ring-necked Dove

    Ring-necked Dove

    Often called "Cape Turtle-Dove," this was an abundant lowland species on our recent trip. It was so common that we tended to ignore them. Its dark eyes and blue-gray orbital skin distinguish this species from the similar Red-eyed Dove and Mourning Collared-Dove. On range this is presumably the...
  2. Namaqua Sandgrouse

    Namaqua Sandgrouse

    Sandgrouse are famous for belly-soaking and carrying water long-distances to their nests. Note the wet belly feathers on this male.
  3. Namaqua Sandgrouse

    Namaqua Sandgrouse

    Sandgrouse are currently placed in their own order, Pteroclidiformes. They are famous for belly-soaking and carrying water long-distances to their nests. Although they resemble grouse or quail (Galliformes) they are apparently more closely related to Pigeons (Columbiformes). This is a female.
  4. Laughing Dove

    Laughing Dove

    This is an adult showing its characteristic speckled rufous neck-band. They are widespread frequenting gardens and parks where they have been increasing in recent decades. They are named for its quiet bubbling vocalizations. They reportedly sing year round but I seldom heard them. Five to...
  5. Groundscraper Thrush

    Groundscraper Thrush

    Two of these interesting thrushes were wandering about on the lawn at our lodge. They were previously considered the only member of the genus "Psophocichla," but modern molecular genetics puts it in the genus "Turdus." In fact it is considered basal to the "Turdus" assemblage of which the...
  6. Crimson-breasted Gonolek

    Crimson-breasted Gonolek

    During a couple of free hours I had an opportunity to photograph this striking bird. Males and females are similar. They are a fairly common southern Africa endemic, quick, moving often with long leaps on the ground. Sometimes called "Crimson-breasted Shrike," this spectacular species is not a...
  7. Common Ostrich

    Common Ostrich

    The largest living bird, Ostriches are in their own family (Struthionidae), characterized by having only two toes. Although flightless, they are said to the be fastest two-legged creature, reaching running speeds of 50 mph. This species is polygynous with up to five or more females laying eggs...
  8. Chat Flycatcher

    Chat Flycatcher

    Superficially resembling a Familiar Chat, this is one of the world's drabbest flycatchers. Its brownish underparts do not contrast much with its slightly darker back but note the buffy edges to the tertials and lack of an obvious eyering. Based on range, this should be the race "A. i...
  9. Cape Starling

    Cape Starling

    The light has to be just right to see the glossy colors. Endemic to Southern Africa, this attractive common species is sometimes called "Red-shouldered Glossy-Starling" (reddish lesser coverts usually concealed) or "Cape Glossy Starling." Males and females are similar.
  10. Blacksmith Lapwing

    Blacksmith Lapwing

    It gets its name from its alarm call which sounds like the pounding of a blacksmith's hammer on an anvil. They are fairly common and widespread throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. Males and females are similar. Sometimes called Blacksmith Plover and formerly included in the genus "Hoplopterus."
  11. Southern Black-backed Jackal  (Lupulella mesomelas ssp. mesomelas)

    Southern Black-backed Jackal (Lupulella mesomelas ssp. mesomelas)

    Two widely separated subspecies of Black-backed Jackal have been described; one here in Southern Africa and another in East Africa. This one (nominate) is smaller, has a longer, narrower skull and different dentition from "L. m. schmidti" of East Africa. Also this one howls while "L. m...
  12. African Gray Hornbill

    African Gray Hornbill

    This is a male showing its narrow tubular casque extending forward along the culmen and characteristic of the small, southern "T. n. epirhinus" race. Females have a larger pale patch at the base of the bill and a dark red bill tip. Sometimes spelled "Grey Hornbill." Formerly included in the...
  13. Common Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus )

    Common Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus )

    This is the nominate race, often called "Blue Wildebeest" named for its silvery blue color. It is also sometimes called the Brindled Gnu. They are usually found in large herds. They were sadly extirpated from Namibia but have since been successfully reintroduced. Males and females are similar.
  14. Spike-heeled Lark

    Spike-heeled Lark

    I dubbed this one "kinky boots" for its spike heels. We found a few of this cryptic lark in dry fields. The recently split Beesley's Lark, is the only other member of the genus "Chersomanes" characterized by a short white-tipped tail, long thin bill and usually upright posture. However...
  15. White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

    White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

    These attractive members of the weaver family (Ploceidae) were common throughout most of our visit to Namibia. They seemed to prefer arid areas away from the immediate coast. This is presumably the paler white tail-tipped race "P. m. ansorgei" which ranges in northern Namibia. They come in two...
  16. Southern Anteater-Chat

    Southern Anteater-Chat

    The upright stance and short tail help identify this extraordinarily drab looking bird. However, in flight males show a conspicuous white flash at the base of the primaries. I suspect this one is a female lacking the white. As its name implies, these birds feed primarily on ants although...
  17. Gemsbok (Oryx gazella)

    Gemsbok (Oryx gazella)

    A spectacular antelope native to southwestern Africa. They are endemic to the Namib and Kalahari desert regions and formerly Angola where they have unfortunately been extirpated. They are often hunted as trophies for their striking long spiral horns. Also called South African Oryx and formerly...
  18. Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

    Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

    This "flying banana" is a common hornbill of arid Savannah habitat also adapts well to settled areas. It was formerly regarded as a race of the Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill (T. flavirostris). The generic name "Tockus" is from their typical "tocking" call notes.
  19. Banded Mongoose (Mungos mungo)

    Banded Mongoose (Mungos mungo)

    Most mongoose species are solitary, but the Banded Mongoose lives in colonies with a complex social structure. They feed primarily on insects (mostly beetles) and millipedes but occasionally take small reptiles and birds.This is presumably the Namibian Striped Mongoose (M. m. Gleason). Plural is...
  20. White-crowned Shrike

    White-crowned Shrike

    At first glance they look like a small falcon. They sometimes go under the English name "Southern White-crowned Shrike" and are a near-endemic to the region. Two subspecies are recognized. This is the nominate race from the western part of its range characterized by a darker mantle.
  21. Crowned Lapwing

    Crowned Lapwing

    This long-legged species was fairly common in dry grasslands. It is named for its black crown completely encircled by a distinctive white headband. Some authors (e.g. Howard & Moore) call this species the Crowned Plover. Early authors (Clements 1st ed., Peters, Sharpe) placed this species in...
  22. South African Ground Squirrel (Geosciurus inauris)

    South African Ground Squirrel (Geosciurus inauris)

    Also known as Cape Ground Squirrel, they are extremely difficult to distinguish from the Damara Ground Squirrel (aka Mountain Ground Squirrel). They have different dentition and their ranges barely overlap. Sometimes placed in the genus "Xerus."
  23. Cardinal Woodpecker

    Cardinal Woodpecker

    The smallest and the most widespread of Africa's woodpeckers,. This one is a male; females lack the red crown patch. It is presumably the nominate race found throughout much of southern Africa. Formerly placed in the genus "Dendropicos ."
  24. Southern Giraffe (Giraffa giraffa)

    Southern Giraffe (Giraffa giraffa)

    I believe this is a male based on its long ossicones (skin and fur covered horns). Giraffe taxonomy is in flux. Traditionally only one species with nine subspecies was recognized. However new molecular results recognize four biological species. Under this classification, the giraffes in Southern...
  25. Dusky Sunbird

    Dusky Sunbird

    Breeding males are almost all black with a white belly and orange pectoral tufts, but this non-breeding male looks quite different. It is mostly brown above, white below with a distinct black patch extending from its throat down to its breast. Some authors incorrectly call this "eclipse...
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