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Good job everyone. it was the southern (lesser) double collard sunbird. i really thought it would be a tougher one, but you're all really good obviously.
Candys style got the answers head on

next....

a. Id this bird
b. Describe the habitat
c. Which insect does this bird especially feed on?
d. How does the female differ to the male in coloration?
e. What bird is it most commonly mistaken for? Explain
the differences.

I'll try again.

a. Green-winged Pytilia( melba finch)
b. Thornveld and dry broad-leaved woodland
c. no idea
d. male's face and throat are red, which is absent in the female
e.Orange-winged Pytilia . The melba finch is more brightly coloured and it lacks the orange wingpanel of tyhe Orange-winged Pytilia

Hey GuYs!!

Glad to see you not giving up aboon

I saw this lil' fellow on my last trip to a park!! Got completely confused tho cause I had an old book and the name was different.. Hehe oh well..

a) Well my name will probly differ to yours but Melba Finch (Pytilia melba)
b) Thickets with rank grass in Acacia savanna, scrub savanna or grassland, edges of riverine forests and bush in more arid reasons.
c) Termites
d) As aboon said the red coloration in the neck and face are absent in a female.
e) Umm Goldenbacked Pytilia (pytilia afra).. Melba is bigger than goldenbacked, goldenbacked has an orange panel in the wing, goldenbacked throat isn't red, goldenbacked has an olive and white barred underpart instead of white and black which is present in the melba..

Keep the birdies flying in
Awesome quiz!!

another perfect answer c.s.
i must say, for a nonbirder aboon, you're doing pretty well. most people are unable to differentiate between the green winged and golden winged pytilia. good job

next.....

a. Identify this bird
b. How does this species get its name
c. Discuss the feeding behaviour of this bird as well as what it eats.
d. Discuss the breeding biology of this bird and the nest.
e. Which other species is it sometimes confused?

Good Evening

This one is tough!! Did the artist run out of pink and make the cheast red, or is that dark pink?

a) Redthroated Twinspot
b) The white spots on its underparts?
c) Diet: Seeds
Behaviour: Forages on ground, often at edge of clearing or on road in pairs or small groups.
d) Season: January-April in Zimbabwe. June in Mozambique. Both parents incubate and feed chicks
Nest: Oval of grass, rootlets, fern stalks, skeletonised leaves and dry moss with side entrance. Lined with dry moss or feathers. Chamber 8cm high. Entrance 4cm diameter. Exterior covered with decomposing leaves. Well camouflaged on ground or low down in bush or tree.
e) Pinkthroated Twinspot

I might have the two birds mixed up hehe!!

Good Evening

This one is tough!! Did the artist run out of pink and make the cheast red, or is that dark pink?

a) Redthroated Twinspot
b) The white spots on its underparts?
c) Diet: Seeds
Behaviour: Forages on ground, often at edge of clearing or on road in pairs or small groups.
d) Season: January-April in Zimbabwe. June in Mozambique. Both parents incubate and feed chicks
Nest: Oval of grass, rootlets, fern stalks, skeletonised leaves and dry moss with side entrance. Lined with dry moss or feathers. Chamber 8cm high. Entrance 4cm diameter. Exterior covered with decomposing leaves. Well camouflaged on ground or low down in bush or tree.
e) Pinkthroated Twinspot

I might have the two birds mixed up hehe!!

Good Evening

This one is tough!! Did the artist run out of pink and make the cheast red, or is that dark pink?

a) Redthroated Twinspot
b) The white spots on its underparts?
c) Diet: Seeds
Behaviour: Forages on ground, often at edge of clearing or on road in pairs or small groups.
d) Season: January-April in Zimbabwe. June in Mozambique. Both parents incubate and feed chicks
Nest: Oval of grass, rootlets, fern stalks, skeletonised leaves and dry moss with side entrance. Lined with dry moss or feathers. Chamber 8cm high. Entrance 4cm diameter. Exterior covered with decomposing leaves. Well camouflaged on ground or low down in bush or tree.
e) Pinkthroated Twinspot

I might have the two birds mixed up hehe!!

Good Evening

This one is tough!! Did the artist run out of pink and make the cheast red, or is that dark pink?

a) Redthroated Twinspot
b) The white spots on its underparts?
c) Diet: Seeds
Behaviour: Forages on ground, often at edge of clearing or on road in pairs or small groups.
d) Season: January-April in Zimbabwe. June in Mozambique. Both parents incubate and feed chicks
Nest: Oval of grass, rootlets, fern stalks, skeletonised leaves and dry moss with side entrance. Lined with dry moss or feathers. Chamber 8cm high. Entrance 4cm diameter. Exterior covered with decomposing leaves. Well camouflaged on ground or low down in bush or tree.
e) Pinkthroated Twinspot

I might have the two birds mixed up hehe!!

Sorry about all the posts

My web frooze and sent a whole bunch through

Thanks. Because I am not able to see the birds alive I use my Sasol, which helps me a lot.

it was in fact the red throated twinspot good job

here the answers:
1. Red throated twinspot
2. If a single breast feather of the redthroated twinspot and a related waxbill sp is examined, at the tip of the feather of the redthroated twinspot are two white spots, one on each vane.
3. Takes food most regularly on the ground and eats mostly small seeds.
4. Breeds january to may, and the nests are domed structures of grass, lined with feathers and usually placed in a bush near the ground.
5. The pink throated twinspot

next.....

(Etienne Marais, 2004. http://chandra.as.utexas.edu)
a. Identify
b. Which bird is this one most commonly mistaken? Differentiate.
c. Is this bird endemic to South Africa?
d. Discuss the feeding methods, and on what they feed
e. Discuss the breeding behaviour and the nest.

Oh gosh, I'm lost on this one..
I'm guessing that it's a type of an Apalises?
Aboon maybe you'll have a better idea ??

I'll expose the answers in the morning
(unless someone can get it by this evening)

you can do it

Fraid this is way beyond me
Rudd's Apalis is the nearest I can find (but the pink throat )and I haven't the strength tonight to lift Roberts V11

@ CS: It is a type of Apalis
@ Freda: It is in fact the Rudds apalis

Heres the answer.....
a. Identify
Rudd’s apalis
b. Which bird is this one most commonly mistaken? Differentiate.
Mistaken for the bar throated apalis. Rudd’s has brown eyes instead of yellow ones. Rudd’s also has white tipped outer tail feathers, instead of totally white.
c. Is this bird endemic to South Africa?
Was considered endemic up until 1979, when a subspecies was discovered in Malawi.
d. Discuss the feeding methods, and on what they feed
Forages for food just above ground level to upper canopy. It feeds on small insects and insect larvae. Occasionally joins mixed bird parties when feeding.
e. Discuss the breeding behaviour and the nest.
Breeds September to January. The nest is dome shaped and made of lichen, moss and spider webs, woven together, and lined with thick vegetable down.

Heres the next one.....

(P&H Harris. http://www.kenyabirds.org.uk)
a. Identify this bird
b. At what age is the chick able to feed itself?
c. Describe the preferred habitat
d. Are the eggs in the nest ever unattended? Discuss the nest and breeding biology.
e. Discuss the feeding methods and on what it feeds.