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My SO calls them the Bumble Bee Bird. When they are chasing other birds and are all puffed up they look like a slighlty fat bumble bee, very cute.

Yellow-crowned bishop

Voice

Rasping buzzing swizling high-pitched zzzzzzzz zzit zzit zzzzzz especially in flight display. The possible alarm call is a shrp tsip tsip.

Status

Nomadic in the winter months. Locally common resident.

Habitat

Moist grasslands, rank weedy vegetation bordering dams and in valley bottoms, flooded plains and vleis.

Habits

Always gregarious, sometimes there are hundreds of them. Forages on grass and herbs and on the ground. Male displays in his territory with a bee-like flight, feathers all fluffed out, giving a buzzing song.

Well, since I am here, maybe someone can also help me with this?

Taken at Mopani rest camp at the river on 4 September.

Hi darth bangkok,

I'm a little cautious to make a definite call on this bird but it's either a female Red Bishop or female Yellow crowned Bishop. I would lean towards Yellow-crowned though because I can't make out any significant streaking on the flanks.

deefstes,

Many thanks!

I agree with Deefstes......this bird doesnt seem to match Red Bishop, as well as it does Yellow Crowned

I spent some time yesterday and this morning to get some shots of these birds' display flights. They are currently seriously involved in territorial protection, keeping rivals off their turf and away from their spouses.


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Like little round balloons they float hither and dither, chasing off intruders. At other times they will sit quietly watching the world go by, or they would chatter away while puffed up at perch.


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The object of their affection is this beauty...


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