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I think you have a little rush-warbler here. It is the only reed-dwelling warbler we have that displays the combination of rich dark-brown upperparts, dappling on the breast and that splayed tail. It also has a very distinctive call, sounding much like when one draws a stick across the supports of a railing, starting slow and accelerating towards the end. In all instances with warblers (including the cisticolas) sound is the easiest way to make an ID.

taken close to Lanseria in the cradle area.

That looks like the first Amur (female) falcon of the summer. Nice one!

Thanks, Johan, that was my second choice ID I chose the reed-warbler because I thought the bird was a lighter russet/brown than the sedge warbler, but I missing on rounded tail As for sound, I'm rarely close enough to hear the birds I photograph Anyway, either of those two warblers would be a new tick for me

I really have NO idea what this/these birds may be — or even if the single bird and the pair are the same sort. I saw them at Strandfontein (Cape Town) on 21 June 2012.

My first thought is that the first bird might be a southern tchagra? Or that if all three are the same sort, then they might be large-ish warblers? BUT the great reed-warbler is given as a summer visitor and also doesn't appear to occur in the Cape. A second thought might be brown robin, but it also doesn't appear to occur in the Cape So I'm flummoxed Am I even close?

1st bird


2nd birds

I would be guessing Lesser Swamp Warbler, but given my prowess in the bird challenges and my ability to recognise LBJs, don't get too excited about it.

I would love to know what the experts say!

Thanks, Rookie! Seems I may have overlooked the obvious?

So would I! Anyone else wish to confirm or contest Rookie's ID?

Could someone please ID this bird for me.
I'm sure it's a shrike but the colouring doesn't seem to match any of them.
Seen in January near Kumana dam.

IMG_3346 by jansp, on Flickr

Jip. It is a Lesser Grey Shrike.

Thanks Roan.
I thought it was but the brown on the wings just worried me a bit.

I'm not sure if it's possible to be certain, but I'm thinking that this must be a mallard (rather than a yellowbilled duck) because the speculum is dark blue rather than green?

We have a number of problems with this ID:
1. The colour of the speculum depends much on the angle light gets reflected off it, much like a starling sometimes appears green and other times blue. Based on the colour of the speculum in this pic, it is impossible to rule out one species in favour of the other.
2. Mallards and YBDs interbreed readily, producing offspring with varied plumage, some that looks more like
Mallard, some more like YBDs... The offspring is fit to breed and you now have degrees of interbreeding that makes ID calls even more difficult.

However, if we stick to the standards for pure-bred birds, then this cannot be a mallard as the female would show some terminal white in the tail. A male it is not because, for one, there is no evidence of a green head. Quite a few other traits from mallard male are lacking as well. Another pointer to YBD is the amount of yellow in the bill. Mallard females have orange, mottled brown bills.

To rule out mixed-bred birds is not possible, but pure-bred mallard bites the dust...

Thanks for all that very interesting detail, Johan I had read about the interbreeding, so knew that might be another possibility. Apologies for not also mentioning that I saw this duck at Strandfontein (Cape Town)

Thanks!

Hi this one has me confused some help please



many thanks