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Hi Johannes

Cisticola's are really difficult to ID out in the field, even harder on an image alone. Best way to ID them is by call, but I would say this looks like a Rattling Cisticola which is by far the most abundant Cisticola in the KNP and especially around Satara.

Rufous Winged Cisticola, which I haven't even seen yet, is not a very common bird in KNP and the habitat around Satara also doesn't really support them. I don't have a field gudie with me, but from what I can remember they enjoy marshy, wetland area's.

Rattling Cisticola's are very much bushveld birds which thrives in the habitat around Satara.

Rattling Cisticola.

Agreed, it's a Rattling Cisticola. I would say the only 2 long-tailed Cisticolas you would really find in the habitat around Satara are Rattling and Croaking, and this bird's bill is too small for Croaking.

Thanks all - I am learning a lot from these discussions! It's always good to not just get a name, but also the reasoning behind it!

Here's another one... Was hopping around the edges of Leeupan (Kruger).

First thought was African Pipit, but it just seemed more "spotted" that the other African Pipits I have seen - and facial marking is not quite as pronounced. Could this be a Bushveld Pipit?

Hi Johannes, looks like a good old African Pipit.

African Pipits come in a wide variety and depending on the moulting process.

Here is an example of Bushveld Pipit.

It is only a pleasure Johannes

You already had the right ID the first time round with African Pipit.

Once again, the most abundant pipit found in the entire Southern Africa not just KNP

But ja, Bushveld Pipit is a tricky one to find, also not that common in KNP, and generally more, well bush loving birds, prefering to bounce around in tree's and perched on top of bushes.

African pipit is a ground dwelling type pipit with a very upright stance as you can see in all your photos.

General rule of thumb is, always ask yourself, why is it not an African Pipit, when it comes to ID'ing a Pipit.

I'd have to say you were correct the first time round, with African Pipit. They can be a bit variable depending on where in SA they come from, the time of moult and the adult vs juvenile. I think this is a juvenile. Bushveld pipit is a lot smaller and tends to spend more time in the trees than on the ground.

Well there you have it, three almost identical answers posted simultaneously!

Thanks to all - you guys are on a roll!!!

I might just have to find some more of my Unidentified birds for you all!

This one was seen in Kruger in the Letaba area.

The ultimate lbj!!

Most probable candidate would be Rattling Cisticola

Good evening to all the fundis

My son and I are embroiled in a friendly birding competition. Here are two LBJs that he and I are completely baffled by.

He is a Sasol man and I am a Roberts man but neither of us can get these two. We give our attempts at recognition:

This was taken in Pietermaritzburg October 2012 in a public garden. The beak seems an insect eater beak; isn't it too short for nectar? We have puzzled over the half-hearted chest bar, the apparently rufous wing and the underparts. We thought Bar-throated Appalis but the prominent white eyebrow seems to rule it out. We have thought juvenile or eclipse of some sort but what?



We were both convinced this one is a Bunting of some sort but couldn't get closer than that. The very prominent head stripe had us looking carefully but we couldn't reach agreement. It was taken near Mopane KNP in April.



Thanks all
Pete from a hot Paarl

Hi there Pete

I would probably say the first one is a Juvenile Cape Wagtail due to the breast band and black legs but I can't say for sure though as the photo doesn't show all the features.

The second bird is a Yellow-Throated Petronia

Agree with Yellow-throated Petronia for the 2nd one, but the first one looks like a Black-chested Prinia to me.

I was thinking that too Matt, but the distribution for Black Chested Prinia is not right for that area..