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Hi Tionet, I don't think anyone ever responded to this question of yours...

The Senegal and Burchell's are VERY similar, and unfortunately from this pic it is not really possible to tell which one it is. Burchell's has a barred rump, whereas Senegal has a plain black rump. Unfortunately this was seemingly a shy individual who wanted to keep its rump to itself!!!

Based on the location (Lower Sabie region) I think you can based on distributions safely say that it is Burchell's Coucal, as Senegal is found in the far north of the park. But distributions also change!!!

I saw that!!!


You're spot on with the Kestrel-call! Not the greatest pic to see all the distinguishing features, but the all-brown features with black spotting on the wings (and faint on the chest if you really squint!) points to a Greater Kestrel. Other brown species would at least have shown some sort of dark or grey crown.

Please could someone help me with the ID of thes birds seen at Leeupan in Kruger in Feb this year, they had been bathing so do look a bit bedraggled.

Larger

Larger

Subadult Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver.

Hi Elsa,

Everything about these guys tells me they're sub-ad Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver. The GISS, white wingpatch showing as white line, and the RBBW sub-ad looks like adult but with dark to horn-colour bill. And there is a big nest at Leeupan...

Moegaai is quite right in ID'ing this one as a Burchell's Coucal. Just thought I'd add one or two things.

I can't remember exactly where (I think it was Biyamithi) and I can't remember exactly when but it was within the last year or so, someone posted a Senegal Coucal pic on these forums that had us scratching our heads. Most of us, including me, was quick to ID it as Burchell's Coucal based purely on distribution, even though no barring was visible. Tertius Gouws eventually put us in our place by confirming that it was indeed a Senegal Coucal, well out of range.

The other thing I wanted to add is that I suspect, and I'm not 100% sure of this, that the barring visible on the secondaries that can be seen on this bird is probably sufficient to ID it as Burchell's Coucal. My understanding is that Senegal Coucal is unbarred not only on the rump, tail feather base and flanks but also on the wings in contrast with Burchell's which shows barring on all these areas.

Phew... Thank goodness!!!


VERY interesting, thanks Deefstes!

I wondered if anyone can confirm (or not . . . !) that these are juv White-headed Vultures? Seen at Shibotwana on the S100 last year.




Sorry, the pic is lousy, I thought it would come out a bit more clearly than this. But with all the experts we have maybe someone can still tell?

Thanks so much for the ID of the sub adult Buffalo-Weaver, Deefstes and Moegaai, much appreciated.

and could I ask for another confirmation ID please,

am I right in thinking these are Wood Sandpipers, also seen in Kruger in Feb.

Large

Large

Yes Elsa, spot on with your Wood Sandpiper call!

Eish, Salamanda, and you complain that Imax and I use bad pics for the challenge!!!

It's really difficult to call, but I'm wondering if it's not possibly African Fish-Eagle. The one on the left seems to be typical juv plumage, where the one on the right is looking like sub-ad plumage.

Let's see what the others say...

Heh heh. I should have offered it to you guys . . .

I was unfortunately rather far away.

Thanks Moeggai. I did think of Fish Eagle. (At full res, you can see that the upper mandible is very thick,down-curving and rather truncated which is why I wondered about the vulture.)

Thanks again Moegaai for your confirmation.

As for salamanda's pic, I would agree the bird on the right does look like a lot like an Imm. or Juv Fish Eagle.

While I am here can you please confirm what you would put this Kingfisher down as, Brown Hooded or Grey-hooded?
Unfortunately this is the only pic we have.

Large

Hi Elsa ,

No other photos needed , this is an immature grey-headed kingfisher.

Jon

Agreed And a lifer it would be!!