WhatSpeciesConnect with Nature
Brown-hooded Kingfisher
Halcyon albiventris
A small, beautiful Brown-hooded Kingfisher (Halcyon albiventris) spotted in Nature’s Valley. I think it is a juvenile. The bird was very quiet, sitting on a fence, seemingly looking to catch an insect on the lawn. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 months ago
Black-crowned Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
Spotted it in Kruger National Park on a game drive ...
Observer 5 months ago
Bonthoutkapper
Tricholaema leucomelas
Pied Barbet with black-and-white striped head. Black mantle and thick black eye stripe. Red patch on forehead. Yellow wing feather tips. Also yellow above eye. ...
WhatSpecies Team 6 months ago
Greater Kestrel
Falco rupicoloides
Beautiful Greater Kestrel (Falco rupicoloides) spotted at Sossusvlei, Namibia. Hard to believe that a bird can survice here. It’s Afrikaans name is Grootrooivalk. ...
WhatSpecies Team 1 year ago
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
Plocepasser mahali
Distinctive broad, white brow. Rather vocal, calling frequently. ...
WhatSpecies Team 1 year ago
Swift Tern
Thalasseus bergii
Swift Tern with distinctive yellow bill and a black crown. ...
WhatSpecies Team 1 year ago
African Harrier-Hawk
Polyboroides typus
Beautiful, stately visitor in our garden this morning. African Harrier-Hawk (Kaalwangvalk). Table Mountain as backdrop. It "hopped" from tree to tree, seemingly looking for prey by perching in the top of the canopy, looking down through the branches. Wonderful experience seeing ...
WhatSpecies Team 1 year ago
Wire-tailed Swallow Juvenile
Hirundo smithii
Would like to know the bird species we have observed next to the Olifants River in Kruger National Park ...
Observer 2 years ago
Marié suggested a new ID:
Common name: Wire-tailed Swallow
Scientific name: Hirundo smithii
Notes: Perhaps juvenile Wire-tailed Swallow.
Knysna Turaco
Tauraco corythaix
This Knysna Turaco (loerie) was very curious and not shy to show itself. It always is a thrill to see them. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Southern Masked Weaver
Ploceus velatus
Southern Masked Weaver weaving its nest. Distinguished from similar species by its red eye. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Verreauxs’ Eagle
Aquila verreauxii
Juvenile Verreaux’s Eagle spotted at the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, where the adult breeding pair has been resident for over 30 years. Image not the best quality as the juvenile was perched way up on the highest cliffs next to ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
African Wattled Lapwing
Vanellus senegallus
White forehead; yellow bill; long yellow wattles with red base. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Greater Striped Swallow
Cecropis cucullata
Greater Striped Swallow collecting mud after the rain. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
White-bellied Sunbird
Cinnyris talatala
White-bellied Sunbird (male) spotted high up in a tree. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Brown Snake Eagle
Circaetus cinereus
Dark brown plumage. Large, yellow eyes. Distinctive round head. Distinguished from other dark brown eagles by creamy white, featherless legs. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Woolly-necked Stork
Ciconia episcopus
The combination of glossy black body with white woolly neck is distinctive of the woolly-necked stork. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Burchell’s Coucal
Centropus burchellii
Glossy black crown and face. Back rich rufous. Underparts buffy white. Black bill; Red eyes. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Trumpeter Hornbill
Bycanistes bucinator
Black head, back, throat and upper breast. White lower-breast and belly. Redish pink skin around eye. Very loud call that sounds like a crying baby. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Hamerkop
Scopus umbretta
Distinctive head shape. Dark brown with heavy crest and black bill. Brown eyes; Legs and feet black. Found singly or in pairs. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Striped Kingfisher
Halcyon chelicuti
Juvenile Striped Kingfisher. Buffy breast, flanks and belly. Upper mandible dark; Lower mandible red. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
African Stone Chat
Saxicola torquatus
Black head, black feathers variably tipped rufous-brown. White patches on sides of neck. Chestnut brown breast shading to white. Black bill. Dark eyes. Legs and feet black. 5 subspecies in southern Africa. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Lilac-breasted Roller
Coracias caudatus
Lilac throat and breast. Blue belly. Long, straight, outer tail streamers. Turquoise crown. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
White-backed Vulture
Gyps africanus
Regarded as vulnerable due to decrease in numbers. Blackish or dark grey face. Eyes dark. Neck dark grey and sparsely covered with whitish down. Off-white rump and lower back only visible in flight or when wings are spread. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Gurney’s Sugarbird
Promerops gurneyi
Distinctive russet breast and crown, long tail and yellow undertail coverts. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Sentinel Rock Thrush
Monticola explorator
Breeds in high altitude habitats. Head, neck to back is bright blue-grey. Upper tail and rump is bright rufous-orange. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Pied Starling
Lamprotornis bicolor
White eyes, blackish brown plumage, white lower belly and under tail. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Pied Kingfisher
Ceryle rudis
Black and white plumage. Male with double breast band. (Female has single breast band). ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Grey-headed Gull
Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus
Gull with grey hood and thin black line around the hood. Bright red bill, legs and feet. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Mocking Cliff Chat
Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris
A very “chatty” bird ????. Glossy black with bright rufous rump and white patch on shoulder. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Kereru
Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae
Suburban area, eating leaves from non-native tree ...
Explorer 2 years ago
Southern Double-collared Sunbird
Cinnyris chalybeus
Daily visitor to our garden. Male, identified by the thin red collar band. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
African Pipit
Anthus cinnamomeus
Common bird. Prominent facial markings. Perhaps a juvenile? ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Water Thick-knee
Burhinus vermiculatus
Waterdikkop (Water Thick-knee) spotted in Nature’s Valley. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Blackheaded Oriole
Oriolus larvatus
Black head and neck; Bright yellow mantle; Coral-pink bill. ...
WhatSpecies Team 3 years ago
Pale Chanting Goshawk
Melierax canorus
Marié suggested a new ID:
Common name: Pale Chanting Goshawk / Bleeksingvalk
Scientific name: Melierax canorus
Versamel Voël
Philetairus socius
Fun to watch these birds socializing at the watering hole. ...
Observer 3 years ago
Kelkiewyn, Namaqua Sandgrouse
Pterocles namaqua
A thrill to hear them approaching with their very distinct calls and then to patiently have to wait for these very shy and nervous birds to make their approach to their watering hole. ...
Observer 3 years ago
Rosy-faced Lovebird
Agapornis roseicollis
Wonderful to observe these beautiful birds interact with each other. ...
Observer 3 years ago
Secretarybird
Sagittarius serpentarius
Spotted the Secetarybird at a distance. Fascinating to watch it scratching around for prey. Beautiful bird. ...
WhatSpecies Team 3 years ago
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill
Tockus leucomelas
Abundant in the Kruger National Park. Easily recognised by its big yellow bill. ...
WhatSpecies Team 3 years ago
Cape Sugarbird
Promerops cafer
Easily recognised by its long tail and the “frrrt-frrrt” sound made by its wings when in flight. Also a very vocal bird. ...
WhatSpecies Team 3 years ago
Ant-eating Chat
Myrmecocichla formicivora
Dark brown birdie spotted in Rietvlei Nature Reserve. ...
Adventurer 4 years ago
EthneEngelking suggested a new ID:
Common name: Ant eating chat
Marié commented:
I have a lot to learn about all the LBJ's! I think this might be an Ant-eating Chat.
Marié suggested a new ID:
Common name: Ant-eating Chat (English), Swartpiek (Afrikaans)
Scientific name: Myrmecocichla formicivora
Piet-My-Vrou
Cuculus solitarius
Red chest, yellow ring around eyes, black back. ...
Adventurer 4 years ago
Lizzie suggested a new ID:
Common name: Redchested Cuckoo, Piet-my-Vrou
Scientific name: Cuculus solitarius
Notes: Newman's Birds of Southern Africa
Brownhooded Kingfisher
Halcyon albiventris
Spotted next to Crocodile River in Magaliesberg area. ...
Adventurer 4 years ago
Woodland Kingfisher
Halcyon senegalensis
Marié commented:
Oh, that is so special. Thank you for sharing Liz.
Cape Bunting
Emberiza capensis
Beautiful little bunting spotted in the Tankwa Karoo National Park – maybe a juvenile? A real poser this one. ...
WhatSpecies Team 4 years ago
Lesser Doublecollared Sunbird
Cinnyris chalybeus
The Lesser Doublecollared Sunbird spent quite some time “exploring” the Strelitzia flower looking for nectar. ...
WhatSpecies Team 4 years ago
Amethyst Sunbird
Chalcomitra amehystina
Black, red under sides of throat, long thin beak. ...
Adventurer 4 years ago
Marié suggested a new ID:
Common name: Amethyst Sunbird, Black Sunbird, Swartsuikerbekkie
Scientific name: Chalcomitra amehystina
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
First sighting of a European Starling in our garden. Speckled. Some green iridescence on most of plumage. ...
WhatSpecies Team 4 years ago
Arrowmarked Babbler
Turdoides jardineii
The arrow-shaped markings on head and breast are characteristic of the Arrowmarked Babbler (Turdoides jardineii). ...
WhatSpecies Team 4 years ago
Arrow-marked babbler
Turdoides jardineii
http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/birds/sylviidae/turdoides_jardineii.htm ...
Observer 4 years ago
Marié commented:
Lovely video! Thank you for sharing it with us.
White-bellied sunbird
Cinnyris talatala
http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/birds/nectariniidae/cinnyris_talatala.htm ...
Observer 4 years ago
Red-winged Starling
Onychognathus morio
http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/birds/sturnidae/onychognathus_morio.htm They love the flowers of the African tulip tree. ...
Observer 4 years ago
Karoo thrush
Turdus smithi
http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/birds/muscicapidae/turdus_smithi.htm ...
Observer 4 years ago
Black-collared Barbet
Lybius torquatus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-collared_barbet ...
Observer 4 years ago
Brown-hooded Kingfisher
Halcyon albiventris
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown-hooded_kingfisher ...
Observer 4 years ago
Burchell’s Coucal
Centropus burchellii
http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/birds/centropodidae/centropus_burchellii.htm ...
Observer 4 years ago
Purple-Crested Lourie
Tauraco porphyreolophus
Large colourful bird with dark-blue crest, blue wing when folded and blue tail, ochre breast, black bill.I could stop staring at them! ...
Adventurer 4 years ago
Marié commented:
Lizzie - when you open any of your own observations, an orange "Edit Observation" button should appear in the top left corner, below the WhatSpecies logo. Clicking on that should enable you to edit your own observations. Can you find it?
Lizzie commented:
For some reason I cannot edit my observations. Marie help!
Marabou Stork
Leptoptilos crumeniferus
Large bird with no feathers on mainly red or pink head or neck. Black wings and white body. Massive bill. In this image the second orange-red air sac, usually hidden at the base of the foreneck, is visible only because it ...
WhatSpecies Team 4 years ago
Hamerkop
Scopus umbretta
Dark brown body with long black legs. The heavy crest and somewhat flattened beak gives them an unmistakable “hammer” profile. I love watching Hamerkop “fishing” in the water – fascinating birds. ...
WhatSpecies Team 4 years ago
Karoo Prinia
Prinia maculosa
It is the first time I have spotted these birds in our garden. I think it is a juvenile Karoo Prinia. ...
WhatSpecies Team 4 years ago
Grey Hornbill
Tockus nasutus
Went outside to see what was making a sweet, thin, piping noise to find two of these hopping in the pekan-nut tree. ...
Adventurer 4 years ago
White-throated Swallow
Hirundo albigularis
White-throated Swallows / Witkeelswaels are usually found near water bodies and are most common in areas with high rainfall. In the Western Capes their nests are often built on a structure over the sea. This specimen’s nest was built beneath the ...
WhatSpecies Team 4 years ago
Cape Bulbul
Pycnonotus capensis
Cape Bulbul / Kaapse Tiptol drinking water in the arid Sandveld. White ring around eye is distinctive ...
WhatSpecies Team 4 years ago
African Hoopoe
Upupa africana
Dirk Richter Lombard suggested a new ID:
Common name: African Hoopoe
Scientific name: Upupa africana
Notes: South African Bird Atlas 2
Brown-headed Parrot
Poicephalus cryptoxanthus
Kind of parrot spotted in the Kruger Narional Park. ...
Observer 5 years ago
Marié suggested a new ID:
Common name: Brown-headed Parrot
Scientific name: Poicephalus cryptoxanthus
Cape Batis
Batis capensis
Spotted this male Cape Batis while hiking to the Storms River Mouth suspension bridge. ...
WhatSpecies Team 5 years ago
Rainbow lorikeet
Trichoglossus haematodus
A pretty fella with an awful temper. 🙂 One of many at Montecasino Bird Gardens, Johannesburg… ...
Observer 5 years ago
Green Wood-hoopoe
Phoeniculus purpureus
Dark blue-green feathers; Long, bright red bill. White spots on feathers. Makes a distinctive cackling chorus. ...
Observer 5 years ago
Spotted Thick-knee
Burhinus capensis
Large bird with speckled feathers. Legs and feet dull yellow. Distinctive yellow eyes. Black bill with yellow base. ...
Observer 5 years ago
Reed Cormorant
Microcarbo africanus
The Reed Cormorant is the only small inland cormorant. Dark brown crown, back and rump. Face is pale with red eyes and orange-yellow bill. Legs and feet are black. ...
WhatSpecies Team 5 years ago
Greater Flamingo
Phoenicopterus roseus
Beautiful flock of Greater Flamingos in the Parc Naturel Régional de Camargue, France. The park covers 820 km2 and its brine ponds provide one of the few breeding grounds in Europe for the Greater flamingo. The Camargue was designated a Ramsar ...
WhatSpecies Team 5 years ago
Purple-crested Turaco
Tauraco porphyreolophus
Very agile bird that can run along branches and leap from branches in the tree canopy. Purple crest. Bright red primary feathers visible during flight. Very distinctive call. ...
WhatSpecies Team 5 years ago
Southern Ostrich
Struthio camelus australis
Adult male ostrich with mostly black feathers, white primary feathers and a white tail, although to me this one’s tail appear to be more “buff”. ...
WhatSpecies Team 5 years ago
Glossy Starling
Lamprotornis nitens
Juvenile Starling with wings becoming peacock blue-green. ...
Adventurer 5 years ago