Rare Birds — Articles and News

Have you got something interesting to contribute? Please let us know. We are always looking for interesting news photos and articles that we and others can learn from …

Article 54 22 January 2013

Green Tinkerbird rediscovered in southern Mozambique

by Hugh Chittenden & Greg Davies

These are the first photos to be published of this uncommon species that also occurs in E Africa …

Article 51 02 July 2009

The temperate forest loving Orange Ground-Thrush

by Hugh Chittenden

The two ground-thrushes in southern Africa occupy completely different forest habitats …

Article 46 26 June 2008

The Montane Bone-bird!

by Hugh Chittenden

Bearded vulture Gypaetus barbatus or Lammergeier as it used to be called, is the only bird in the world that can survive almost exclusively on a bone diet …

Article 44 20 February 2008

Leucistc Bronze-winged Courser at Bivane Dam, Vryheid, Zululand

by Duncan McKenzie

An interesting sighting and possibly the first record of a Leucistc Bronze-winged Courser Rhinoptilus chalcopterus …

Article 43 19 February 2008

Bird Specials of the high Berg

by David Weaver

In birding speak, specials are birds that are found in a certain area and no where else. For birders this means that they will need to travel …

Article 33 17 July 2007

East Coast Akalat

by Hugh Chittenden and Derek Coley

East Coast Akalat Sheppardia gunningi or Gunning’s Robin as it used to be called, is one of the smallest and least known of the robins in southern Africa…

Article 30 16 May 2007

White-chested Alethe

by Hugh Chittenden

Some birds are not only geographically restricted, but also shy, elusive and darn right difficult to locate and see – White chested Alethe Alethe fuelleborni definitely fits into this category…

Article 28 31 March 2007

White-backed Night-Heron

by Hugh Chittenden

Because of its nocturnal habits and secretive and elusive nature, White-backed Night-Heron Gorsachius leuconotus is one of the more difficult birds to see in Africa …

Article 25 08 March 2007

Avian Colour Oddities

by Martin Benadie

Whilst on a recent visit to Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa’s North West Province, we encountered an aberrant coloured bird that prompted me to delve further into plumage anomalies in birds …

Article 22 13 February 2007

Lemon-breasted Canary – an unsuccessful breeding species

by Hugh Chittenden and Guy Upfold

Lemon-breasted Canary Crithagra citrinipectus is an exceptionally unique bird with its entire distribution range linked to that of the Lala Palm Hyphaene coriacea …

Article 6 07 December 2006

Short-Tailed Pipit

by Hugh Chittenden

Short-tailed Pipit Anthus brachyura is one of the world’s rarest pipit species. In South Africa it is an uncommon localized breeding Red Data species listed as Vulnerable. However, because of its shy and secretive habits, it is perhaps overlooked to a great extent …

Article 5 06 December 2006

Böhm’s Bee-eater

by Hugh Chittenden

Böhm’s Bee-eater is one of the most geographically restricted bee-eater species…

Article 2 05 December 2006

The rare Magpie Mannikin

by Hugh Chittenden

Magpie Mannikin (or Pied Mannikin as it used to be known as), is one of the rarest breeding species in South Africa, yet, strangely, it is not that uncommon in parts of the Anerley/Port Shepstone area of the KwaZulu-Natal …

Article 1 05 December 2006

Threat to Black Coucal breeding site

by Hugh Chittenden

Isn’t it ironic that the one thing that most South Africans really wanted was to secure the 2010 soccer World cup bid, and that successful bid now becomes the nemesis for one of southern Africa’s rarest breeding birds …

Rare Birds — Articles and News

Topics