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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..

I saw this bird near 14th boorgat in the Kgalagadi, at the end of October this year. I think it is a thick-billed Sabota lark? Could the experts please help. Thanx!

It looks like you're correct to me. I would also go with C. s. bradfieldi race of Sabota Lark.

Many thanks MattAxel!

What bird is this?

Easy for the experts - difficult for me

Thanks to the experts who like to sell new field guides regularly, you have been diddled of a lifer Wanderw. I also saw one on my recent trip.

Johannes v N all I can see see is a total black picture.??

Scrub-Robin. Tough to distinguish between White-browed and Bearded, listen to the call and see what you think.

Hi guys. Short question. The little brown birds one usually finds at Satara restaurant... What are they called. There is a zillion of them that all look the same in the book. I am stuck.

Sparrows? Any photos...?

I am clueless when it comes to LBJ's! Pic taken at Mooiplaas waterhole end of December 2012.