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I too have a growing collection of 'unknown cisticolas' — to which these may be added. I try and try to distinguish between greybacked and Levaillant's cisticolas and invariably get them wrong, so .... Are these (which may or my not be the same bird) Levaillant's? See along Darling Hills Road on 31 May 2012.

I don't think it's the same bird, arks, but it is pix of the same species. Why did you pick Levailant's? How would you distinguish GBC from LC considering the features you can see in your pics (plain rufous crown, Buff-brown margins to black mantle feathers, rufous wing panel and even tail shape and length?)

Thanks, Johan. I think that my field guide (Newman) doesn't tell me enough detail Perhaps that's why I invariably get it wrong? I thought that these birds had backs that are more black than grey and my book shows the Levaillant's as have a more solidly clear rufous head than the greybacked ... and I don't see any noticable difference on the Newman's drawings in the tail length and the rufous on the wings.

(OK, so may be I need a new/better field guide?)

Nothing wrong with Newman's ... its illustrations of these two species are spot-on. All of the features I mention above are shown there. I'm just not sure if my cryptic answer had the desired outcome namely to have you go back (to your NEWMAN's) and compare the two cisticolas, then re-evaluate your (originally correct) ID based on these clues/tips!

The idea was for you to make the ID based on those features, then you shouldn't battle again in future when you encountre these specific birds seeing that you will understand and know those points on which you can base a correct ID everytime.

You mean I've finally got it right?!? It's just that I'm SO lacking in confidence when I try to ID cisticolas, and in the past I had often/usually gotten it wrong. So glad to understand now that I am finally making some progress ....

Thanks, Johan, for never making it easy, that's the best way for me to learn!

So, does that mean the end of grey-backed/Levailant's cisticola conundrums from your neck-o'-the-wood?

I've actually been posting fewer and fewer cisticola ID queries, but sometimes I'm (still) just not 100% sure and need reassurance

Cannot say these LBJs are easy Another Marakele visit this weekend (1-2/Sep) brought a few new birds for this beginner although I had the idea it was very quiet, guess because of the wind

This Flycatcher (I hope) I believe is a Marico Flycatcher. Underparts not 100% white but seems not nearly dark enough to be a Pale Flycatcher, or? Sitting on top of this Thorn tree when noticed flew of when pics were taken.





TIA, Michael

Marico

Thanks again DD, was the only one I wasn't sure of this time

I think this was taken close to Croc Bridge a couple of years ago.

Its definitely a lark, and there are nto that many to choose from that you can find in the Kruger park area. I'd say monotonous lark is a likely candidate with that conspicuous white throat.

I'm sorting through my bird pics trying to find how many different species I have pics of and have a few I simply can't ID.
Any help would be really appreciated.
Seen in Bontebok in February. ?a female african stonechat.

IMG_4963 by jansp, on Flickr

A lark seen in KTP near Nosob in March.??eastern clapper lark

lark eastern clapper by jansp, on Flickr

Young warbler seen at Rondevlei in Cape Town in February.

IMG_5517 by jansp, on Flickr

Sorry about the quality. They're all cropped, I'm afraid.

Hi Granjan, your first picture is certainly an African Stonechat, and it looks to be a female. As JvR has said that regional variations are important, so in this case the bird is just more greyish than buffy. There looks to be some orange on the flanks.

As to the other two birds, the second looks like an Eastern Clapper Lark, but I could not be certain, and the last one I cannot help with. Do you have another picture of the last bird?

Thanks, Mutorashanga.
This is the only other pic I have. Not much help, I'm afraid.

IMG_5516 by jansp, on Flickr