Telophorus zeylonus
The beautiful Bokmakierie is a well known South African bird, easily seen thanks to their conspicuous colours and the vibrant call from which they get their name. They inhabit fynbos, dry scrublands, grassland and to a lesser extent open savannas, often near rocky outcrops, and is commonly found in suburban parks and gardens across their range. They feed mainly on insects and spiders but will also prey on small vertebrates, like lizards and baby birds, and also include eggs and a variety of fruit in their diet.
Bokmakieries nest mostly during spring and summer though attempts have been recorded throughout the year, raising clutches of 2-6 chicks that hatch after being incubated by both parents for a little over 2 weeks. Their nests are cups built of plant material in thick vegetation. The hatchlings leave the nest when they’re about 3 weeks old. Pairs are territorial. Adults measure about 23cm in length and weigh up to 66g.
The IUCN considers the Bokmakierie to be of least concern. They are common in South Africa (except most of Limpopo Province), Namibia and Lesotho, with their distribution extending marginally into Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.
DeWetsWild 
Used to love seeing them when I lived near Jhb. They don’t occur here so we have to travel to see them now.
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KZN has other beautiful kinds of Bush-shrikes to enjoy, if only they were as easily seen as the Bokmakierie
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Yes they are heard more often than seen! I do hear the Gorgeous Bushshrike here calling from afar, and the Southern Boubou is an almost constant though usually concealed visitor to our garden.
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I do love yellow birds 🙂
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Especially ones with beautiful voices like the Bokmakierie!
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Even better!!
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So sal ek Suid Afrika onthou met die Bokmakiere se geroep en dan natuurlik ook die tortelduiwe.
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Ons sal beslis armer wees sonder die Bokmakierie in ons land!
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Netso!
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I like their distinctive call. They remind me of our horned larks.
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Quite often you hear the call long before you see the bird!
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Such a pretty bird!
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We agree wholeheartedly, P J B!
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So pretty!
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They certainly are!
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Dis darem pragtige voëls en daardie duetroep gee mens hoendervleis! Pragtige foto’s, Dries.
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Ek dink hulle is van ons mooiste voels, Dina.
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Have recently enjoyed seeing them in the Addo Elephant National Park – wonderfully handsome birds.
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Addo is a terrific place to see them, it is as if they are less shy there than at most other places.
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Hulle is pragtig, Dries! Ons kry baie van hulle hier by ons. Hulle sit op die tuinmuur en ek kan hulle dan lekker dophou en afneem 🙂
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Julle is regtig gelukkig om hul so naby jul te he, Aletta!
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Ons is beslis!
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This bird reminds me of our meadow lark; similar coloring and I love seeing it come back in the spring and hearing its cheerful song.
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The Bokmakierie has the same effect on us everytime we see one, Annette!
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For its size the Bokmakierie is a really beautiful bird reminiscent of the Blue Jay, but with different colors and a better sounding call.
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The photos really doesn’t do it fill justice, Hien. It really is a very special endemic.
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Beautiful markings and colors. Now there’s one that is easy to identify!
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We can only nod in agreement, Montucky!
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