ID please South African bird (1 Viewer)

[RonnieDP]

Please help.

Coast near Durban.

Thanks
Ronnie.https://pbase.com/ronniedp/image/170891776

 

[Andy Adcock]

From the very white underparts, I'd say immature male, Red-headed Weaver?

 

[RonnieDP]

I have looked in our local bird book. That weaver is not shown on the coast so far south. Only north east parts of SA. ?

Ronnie.

 

[foresttwitcher]

E-bird shows a sighting near Durban.

 

[Andy Hurley]

For me the bill is too chunky and the tail too long for Red-headed Weaver. Have you considered Red-headed Quelea?

I haven't seen that Quelea yet, so I don't know the phases it goes through.

In the Sasol it is shown as an uncommon Summer visitor, but in the month bars it is present during Winter, but uncommon.

Edit: R-h Quelea is in the Avibase checklist for Durban see this page

 

[RonnieDP]

I've looked at the Red-headed Quelea. The one that comes closest to my photo, seems to be the non-breeding male. That shows along the coast. Otherwise it can be a juvenile of the full Red-headed species?

Thanks for the help. But further comments welcome.

Ronnie.

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

https://cdn.download.ams.birds.cornell.edu/api/v1/asset/205463971/

I would agree on redheaded quelea