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Seen at Satara.

Grey Go-away Bird (Corythaixoides Concolor)

A large bird (47 to 50 cm), found in Africa from Zululand and Angola through to Tanzania. In southern Africa it is a common resident found in the northern parts. It inhabits bushveld and savanna and is found in pairs or small groups. It eats fruit, flowers, buds and leaves.

These birds are absolute characters and its always great hearing their distinctive calls in the bush. Here's one we saw at Biyamiti in Dec 06

Seen on the S108 in May 2006

This tree is at De Laporte waterhole. The photo was taken on the 26/6 at about midday. Are these birds known for congregating in these numbers? If so why?

In summer food is plentiful and breeding is taking place and you will therefore not see big groups like this. In winter however there is no breeding and food is scarce so the birds tend to flock together, more eyes to find food and alert others.

They must be starving in the winter. Even in summer where do they get fruit in Kruger?

Not only fruit, they eat berries and there are plenty of those in Kruger

Some people say that their call is a loud drawn-out nasal go-away hence the new name, Go-away-bird. Others say the call sounds like kwe hence the afrikaans name, kwevoel. Their other calls consists of various yowls, shrieks and grunts.

Kruger National Park - August 2008

Found this one in my collection, first time ever one of these guys sat still I think!

Took these photo's a few weeks ago in my garden.

On a bright and sunny day at Lower Sabie, KNP.

May 2009

A few years ago at my home in JHB i managed to make friends with a grey Go-away- Bird. I would lie in the pool and do my best imitation and he would answer. He grew so accustomed to me that he would even allow me to spray him with a water pistol on those hot summer afternoons. He would lift each wing and turn around, making sure i didnt miss a spot.