Long-tailed Paradise Whydah

Vidua paradisaea

If it wasn’t for the male’s conspicuous tale, which they wear only in the breeding season, it would be very easy to overlook the Long-tailed Paradise Whydah. Females, and non-breeding males, measure about 12cm in length and are decidedly drab, blending perfectly with their environment. But in the breeding season, which spans the summer and autumn months, males sport high contrast colours and a very fancy tail that can measure more than 20cm in length, which certainly makes them stand out even from a distance.

Long-tailed Paradise Whydahs are seed-eaters, supplementing their diet with only the occasional insect, and inhabit grasslands, savannas and open woodland, also venturing into adjacent agricultural fields and villages.

Male Long-tailed Whydahs are territorial and attempt to mate with as many females as possible in a breeding season. Being brood-parasites the females then lie between 1 and 3 eggs in the nests of, especially, the Green-winged Pytilia, The chicks hatch after 11 days and look almost identical to the chicks of the host birds with which they leave the nest about two weeks after hatching, becoming fully independent at about a month old.

In South Africa, the Long-tailed Paradise Whydah occurs from Kwazulu-Natal through Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng, North West and the Free State to the extreme eastern-most districts of the Northern Cape. Their distribution further stretches from Namibia to Ethiopia and Somalia. According to the IUCN the Long-tailed Paradise Whydah’s conservation status is of least concern.

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah (male in transitional plumage)

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah (female)

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah (shortly before molting)

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah female

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah

Long-tailed Paradise Whydahs

Sycomore Fig

25 Replies

Ficus sycomorus

The Sycomore Fig, or Cluster Fig, is one of our most striking indigenous trees. They grow to an enormous size – up to 25m high with an equally impressive yellowish trunk supporting a widely spread canopy – in the alluvial soils along rivers and streams. Sycomore Figs flower and fruit throughout the year, bearing figs in huge quantities that sustain an incredible variety of insects, birds and mammals, humans included, and this is solely reliant on pollination by wasps of the genus Ceratosolon, which spend most of its life-cycle inside the fruit.

Apart from the obvious use of the figs, and less so the young leaves, as food, humans also use the bark and latex of the Sycomore Fig medicinally. And although the wood is soft, the Sycomore Fig was held in such regard that some Egyptian mummies were even interred in caskets made of the wood!

In South Africa, Sycomore Figs occur naturally in the north of Kwazulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo, and beyond our borders throughout central, east and west Africa to Senegal. They’re also found on the Arabian Peninsula and from Egypt to Syria – presumably being the fig tree that is mentioned in several chapters of the Bible. The IUCN lists it as being of least concern.

Sycomore Fig

A Sycomore Fig Tree in a dry stream bed near Phabeni Gate

Sycomore Fig on the banks of the Nwatindlopfu

Sycomore Fig

Lesser Striped Swallow

40 Replies

Cecropis abyssinica

One of the most abundant swallows in Africa, the Lesser Striped Swallow visits most of South Africa during our warmer months (though some birds remain year-round in the warmer Lowveld and northern reaches of Kwazulu-Natal). The majority of the local population arrives from July and August and head back northwards between February and May.

The Lesser Striped Swallow is a bird of mesic woodlands and savannas, often being seen close to open water, but have adapted to cultivated land and thrives in urbanised environments. Insects and other invertebrates, caught on the wing, make up the majority of their food intake though they will also settle on branches to feed on seeds and small berries on occasion.

Lesser Striped Swallows construct bowl-shaped nests of mud under rock overhangs, horizontal branches, culverts, bridges and the eaves of roofs. These nests are often used for several consecutive years, and not always by the same pair of birds. Pairs are monogamous. Their breeding season stretch over several months from early spring to autumn. Clutches of 2-4 eggs are incubated by the female for 3 weeks. While the hatchlings start flying when they’re less than 3 weeks old, they still remain dependent on their parents for the shelter of their nest and food for about a month after taking to the air for the first time.

Although it is only a summer visitor to most of South Africa, where it can be commonly seen in all provinces with the exception of the Free State, Western and Northern Cape, the Lesser Striped Swallow has a wide distribution over most of Sub-Saharan Africa and is considered to be of least concern by the IUCN, which also states that their populations are growing.

Lesser Striped Swallows often occur alongside the Greater Striped Swallow with which it can easily be confused.

Lesser Striped Swallow

Lesser Striped Swallows

Lesser Striped Swallow

Lesser striped swallows at the “Wimbledon” bridge

Lesser Striped Swallow – welcome sign that spring is around the corner!

Lesser striped swallows at the “Wimbledon” bridge

Lesser Striped Swallow

Free-tailed Bats

18 Replies

Family Molossidae

All bats from the family Molossidae share a unique feature, in that their tails are not fully enclosed by the membrane between the hind legs as in other carnivorous bats (clearly shown in the pictures below). Identifying them down to species level in the field is exceedingly difficult, and even experts often have to rely on a close examination of teeth structure and genetic analysis to achieve that. The familial name comes from these bats’ resemblance to the Molossus dogs, forebears of today’s mastiffs, kept by the ancient Greeks.

Nine species of Free-tailed Bats occur in South Africa, with the Egyptian Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida aegyptiaca) the most common and widespread, being found in virtually every corner of the country, while the other species all have much more limited distributions within our borders. At least one species, the Large-eared Free-tailed Bat (aka Large-eared Giant Mastiff Bat, Otomops martiensseni) is considered vulnerable to extirpation from the country as it occurs in only a handful of colonies in and around the city of Durban.

The South African representatives of this large bat-family range widely in size, weighing between 10 and 50g with wingspans ranging from 25 to 45cm depending on the species.

The Free-tailed Bats are among the fastest and high-flying of all bats. Most of the species occur in woodland and riverine forests, others prefer rocky terrain while a few others have a very wide habitat tolerance. Only a few species have adapted to using buildings, and especially roofs, as shelter; most prefer natural roosts like caves, crevices and hollow trees. The Free-tailed Bats are gregarious, often congregating in groups several hundred strong, and entirely insectivorous (different species often have a preference for different kinds of insects, preferring for instance mosquitoes, moths or beetles over other options).

Female Free-tailed Bats give birth to a single baby at a time, some species breeding at any time of year while others have birthing peaks in the summer months.

This Free-tailed Bat came visiting after dark

Free-tailed Bat leaving the roost

Free-tailed Bat

Free-tailed Bats roosting beneath the thatch at Mooiplaas’ ablutions

Free-tailed Bat youngster that dropped from the roost trying to hide in leaf litter

Free-tailed Bat

African Hawk-Eagle

29 Replies

Aquila spilogaster

An inhabitant of woodland and savanna habitats, the African Hawk-Eagle is a medium-sized eagle preying primarily on birds, mammals and reptiles up to 4kg in weight – no small feat for a bird that itself weighs only about 1.5kg (females are slightly bigger than males).

African Hawk-Eagles are normally encountered in monogamous, territorial pairs which often hunt and feed cooperatively. In the breeding season, which starts in winter and extends into spring, they also work together to build and maintain their large stick nest in the canopies of tall trees or, less frequently, on cliffs or utility pylons. The female takes responsibility for incubating the clutch of 1 or 2 eggs over a 5 week period while the male feeds her and the newly hatched chicks at the nest – the female only starts leaving the nest for short periods about a week after the chicks emerged. The first-hatched chick usually dominates the second, most often leading to the death of the second chick through starvation or being persistently bullied. The chicks leave the nest at about two months old and remain dependent on the parent birds for three more months thereafter before dispersing.

The African Hawk-Eagle occurs widely over sub-Saharan Africa with the exclusion of the equatorial forests and arid regions. The IUCN considers it to be of least concern while noting that populations are declining due to loss of habitat and persecution as poultry thieves. A fairly rare resident in South Africa’s northern provinces (Gauteng, North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga), where the population is estimated to be about 1,600 pairs, and occasionally recorded in northern Kwazulu-Natal, the African Hawk-Eagle is considered near-threatened in South Africa and mostly seen in the large conservation areas encompassed by its distribution range, most notably the Kruger National Park.

African Hawk-Eagle

African Hawk Eagle

African Hawk-Eagle

African Hawk Eagle

African Hawk Eagle in silhouette (photo by Joubert)

African Hawk Eagle

Immature African Hawk-Eagle

African Hawk Eagle

African Hawk Eagles

African Hawk Eagle

African Hawk-Eagle

Juvenile African Hawk-Eagle

African Hawk-Eagles

Yellow-throated Plated Lizard

16 Replies

Gerrhosaurus flavigularis

The Yellow-throated Plated Lizard is a medium-sized (45cm total length, of which two-thirds are made up by the tail) and very graceful reptile occurring in all South Africa’s provinces, being absent only from the arid western and central parts of the country, and northwards to Ethiopia and Sudan. They’re a diurnal and burrowing species and live in a wide range of habitats, from high mountain grasslands to coastal forests, and are surprisingly common in many towns and cities. They are very quick and feed on quite a diverse menu of invertebrate prey. About a month after mating females lay clutches of 4-8 eggs in tunnels they dig beneath bushes or rocks, with the babies emerging in the late summer roughly three months later. Sadly some of them are traded as exotic pets as they tame easily.

Yellow-throated Plated Lizard

Spotted Eagle-owl

19 Replies

Bubo africanus

The Spotted Eagle-owl is one of our most frequently encountered nocturnal birds, even in towns and cities where they can become quite confiding with humans (beware though that they will defend their nests ferociously!). They’re not very picky about their habitat and feed on an enormous variety of rodents and other small mammals, insects, reptiles, birds, fish, bats, frogs and carrion. Standing about 45cm high, with a wingspan of just over a metre and a weight of 700g the Spotted Eagle Owl is one of the smaller members of its family.

Spotted Eagle Owls breed at anytime of year, though peaking in spring and summer, and nesting in any suitable location be it in a concealed spot on the ground, or in a gully, tree or building (such as our local library’s gutters!) or somewhere else they find to their liking. Broods usually number two or three chicks, hatched after an incubation period lasting almost 5 weeks, but as many as six chicks have been recorded. Pairs are monogamous and while the female is responsible for incubating the clutch of eggs the male supplies her with food at the nest. Juveniles become fully independent about four months after leaving the nest, which happens about 5 weeks after they’ve hatched. Spotted Eagle Owls may live for about ten years in the wild and much longer in captivity.

The Spotted Eagle Owl occurs over virtually all of Africa south of the equator, with a separate population on the Arabian peninsula. The IUCN lists it as being of least concern. It is also a common species in South Africa and can be found in every province. Sadly they are often killed by vehicles when scavenging at road kills at night.

Spotted Eagle Owl

Spotted Eagle-owl

Spotted Eagle Owl

Spotted Eagle Owl (photo by Joubert)

Spotted Eagle-owl chick

Spotted Eagle-owl

Spotted Eagle-owl chick

Spotted Eagle-owl

Spotted Eagle-owl chick

Solifuges

20 Replies

Order Solifugae

The Solifuges, or Sun Spiders, are a diverse order of Arachnids of which 241 species (of 6 different families) occur here in the southern parts of the African continent – that’s almost a quarter of all the Solifugae species found on earth. While most species are associated with arid scrub and deserts, there are species occurring in virtually every corner of South Africa.

Some species are exceptionally large, with bodies measuring 7cm in length and boasting a leg span of as much as 16cm – the size of a side plate!

Solifuges are solitary creatures, and depending on the species are either diurnal or nocturnal. When not actively out hunting they hide in tunnels up to 23cm deep that they dig themselves under logs and rocks. Females reproduce only once, laying as many as 200 eggs in a tunnel she digs and often guards until the eggs hatch about a month later.

Though they look scary, are fast moving and quite aggressive, Solifuges pose no danger to humans other than a painful bite. They are not venomous at all and rely on their speed and imposingly grotesque jaws to catch and overpower their prey – mainly insects and other invertebrates, but they have even been recorded catching small reptiles and rodents much larger than themselves!

Their colloquial Afrikaans name “Baardskeerder”, meaning “Beardshaver”, comes from a (probably) mistaken belief that they will cut pieces of hair or beard from sleeping humans – females of some species are known to use hair and fur to line their tunnels but this is probably collected rather than harvested. To my mind their impressive jaws are also reminiscent of sheep-shears. On hot days diurnal species seek out shade, and if that shade happens to be provided by a moving human, they will follow you around at whatever speed you’re trying to use to put distance between the solifuge and yourself with hilarious consequences and leading to another traditional Afrikaans name of “jaagspinnekop” (chasing spider) for these creatures.

Solifuges have difficulty adapting to captivity, usually dying within a week or two of being captured, though they can live for up to a year in the wild. Attempting to keep one as a pet is therefore strongly discouraged.

Solifuge a.k.a. Sun Spider

Solifuge on the hunt

Senegal Lapwing

10 Replies

Vanellus lugubris

The Senegal Lapwing, also known as the Lesser Black-winged Plover, is a rather uncommon denizen of open savannas and woodlands with a covering of short grass, being especially fond of recently burned veld, and prone to localised migrations as soon as the grass cover grows too long for them to easily find the termites that make up the majority of their diet.

Senegal Lapwings are partly nocturnal (especially so on moonlit nights), move around in small flocks, and breed in spring and summer with monogamous pairs forming loose colonies when nesting. The nest is little more than a scrape in the ground in which a clutch of 3 or 4 eggs are incubated for a month by both parents. The chicks are precocious, leaving the nest about 4 hours after hatching to follow their parents around and feeding themselves. The chicks learn to fly from around a month old, but may stay with the parents until the next breeding season. Adults weigh around 115g and measure 24cm in length.

Listed as being of least concern by the IUCN, the Senegal Lapwing has a discontinuous distribution over parts of west, central, east and southern Africa. In South Africa it occurs only in the north of Kwazulu-Natal and in the Lowveld of Mpumalanga and Limpopo Province.

Senegal lapwing

Senegal Lapwing

Senegal lapwing chick seen along the S36

Senegal lapwing

Senegal Lapwing

Little Bee-eater

34 Replies

Merops pusillus

The Little Bee-eater is, at a weight of about 15g and length of around 16cm, the smallest of Africa’s bee-eaters and probably also in the world. Despite their small size they’re excellent at catching the bees, wasps and hornets that make up the bulk of their diet. Seldomly encountered far from water, Little Bee-eaters inhabit open woodlands and savannas where it catches its prey on the wing. Before swallowing their potentially dangerous prey they disarm the stingers by swiping it against a branch or other hard surface.

Contrary to most other bee-eaters, Little Bee-eaters are solitary breeders, making nest in long tunnels (up to 1.3m!) they dig themselves in earthen walls and riverbanks, usually in spring and early summer before the peak of the rainy season endangers their nesting sites. The pair is monogamous and take it in turns to incubate the clutch of 2-6 eggs over a period of around 19 days. The chicks leave the nest between 3 and 4 weeks after hatching and stay with the parents for several weeks more afterwards. Little Bee-eaters are normally seen in pairs or family groups of up to ten that roost tightly together at night.

Little Bee-eaters occur in all South Africa’s provinces with the exception of the Northern, Eastern and Western Cape. North of our borders, the Little Bee-eater occurs over most of sub-Saharan Africa. The IUCN considers it to be of least concern despite noting that efforts to control insect outbreaks are contributing to a decline in their population, which, at an estimated 60-million+, is likely the most numerous of all Africa’s bee-eaters.