Category Archives: South African Wildlife

The inhabitants of South Africa’s wild places

Wanderer

Bematistes aganice

The Wanderer inhabits montane, coastal and riverine forests. It normally stays high in the canopy of lofty forest trees, moving around with slow, confident wing beats – having a rather disagreeable taste most predators stay well clear of them. The male is territorial and will chase any other butterflies, not only of their own kind, that venture into his patch. Adults have a wingspan of about 7cm and can be seen year-round.

In South Africa it is found in the Eastern Cape, Kwazulu-Natal and the Lowveld of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, and beyond our borders as far afield as East Africa.

Wanderer butterfly

Common Waxbill

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Estrilda astrild

The Common Waxbill is an adaptable little finch that occurs in a wide-range of habitats, but is especially fond of densely growing vegetation in wetlands and along watercourses, and also enters gardens and parks in towns and cities. They’re social birds, moving around in flocks that usually number up to 50 individuals (though sometimes into the hundreds or even thousands) and feed mainly on grass flowers and seeds and the occasional soft-bodied insect.

Common Waxbills may breed throughout the year but predominantly during the warmer months of spring and summer. The male builds the intricate nest – a horizontal, pear-shaped construction of grass stems and leaves with a nesting chamber and a “dummy” nest cavity to confuse predators – that is usually placed on or near the ground at the base of thick vegetation. Both parents take turns to incubate the clutch of 4-6 (sometimes up to 9) eggs over a two-week period. The chicks fledge about three weeks after hatching, but often returns to the nest for a few days more to roost at night. Fully grown they weigh around 8g and measure up to 12cm long. The Common Waxbill is the main breeding host for the Pin-tailed Whydah, which lays 1-4 of their eggs in the nest of the Waxbill, often removing some or all of the Waxbill’s eggs, for the Waxbill to incubate their eggs and raise their chicks.

Common Waxbills have a patchy distribution over Sub-Saharan Africa; from Guinea in the west and Ethiopia in the northeast to South Africa, where it can be found in every one of our provinces. According to the IUCN, the Common Waxbill is of least concern. It is commonly found in the cage-bird trade and feral populations have become established in other parts of the world.

Common waxbill

Common Waxbill

Common Waxbills

Common Waxbill

Common Waxbills

Common Waxbill (photo of Joubert)

Common Waxbill

Introduced Bird Species in South Africa

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South Africa observes the “National Invasive Species Week” in October annually. Hosted by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, the campaign focuses on creating awareness among the South African public about the threats non-native species pose to our ecosystems. In this edition of de Wets Wild, we’ll be focusing on a handful of the introduced bird species found in our country.

Common Myna – Acridotheres tristis

The Common Myna was introduced to South Africa from India and Sri Lanka between 1900 (Durban) and 1938 (Johannesburg), and has become one of the most common urban birds in almost all the cities and towns in the north-east half of our country with newly established populations also noted in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and elsewhere – no wonder it is considered one of the 100 worst invasive species, not only in South Africa but the world over. Very worryingly, they now seem to have thrown off their urban shackles and are increasingly being recorded in several of our national parks as well. Common Myna are highly intelligent and quite aggressive and easily outcompete several indigenous kinds of birds for nests and food, even destroying their eggs and killing their chicks. They carry foreign diseases and parasites that afflict not only other birds but also humans.

The Common Myna is an alien invasive species

Common Myna

Common Mynas

Two pairs of Common Myna fighting over a nest

Common Mynas

Common Myna

We weren’t exactly thrilled to see this exotic invader, a Common Myna, at Mankwe Dam

Common Myna

Common Myna – not a species you want to see in a Nature Reserve, being an invasive exotic

I wasn’t exactly thrilled to come across a Common Myna – an alien invader – on the Grassland Loop

Common Starling – Sturnus vulgaris

Another species considered to be among the 100 worst invasive species on the planet is the Common Starling, which first arrived in South Africa (Cape Town) in 1897, having been introduced from England by Cecil John Rhodes, himself a controversial figure. Not only is it responsible for immense damage to crops and orchards, but it too outcompetes native birds for resources like nests and food. While the distantly related Common Myna has taken control of the north-east of our country, it seems this member of the starling family has claimed the south-west of South Africa, especially the Western and Eastern Cape, and is staging its invasion of the rest of the country from there.

Thankfully two other species Rhodes tried to establish at the Cape of Good Hope, the Common Chaffinch and Grey Squirrel, while still resident in and around Cape Town, have not become as entrenched in South Africa as the Common Starling.

Common Starling

Common Starlings

Common Starling

Common Starling (photo by Joubert)

Common Starling

Common Starlings

European Starlings

House Sparrow – Passer Domesticus

Today, the House Sparrow occurs in virtually every corner of South Africa – if there are people permanently settled anywhere, you can be sure there are House Sparrows too. It would appear that they first arrived in Durban from India around 1880, from whence they rapidly spread throughout South Africa and to our neighbouring countries – it is estimated that there are 8,000 of them in the various rest camps of the Kruger National Park alone! Thankfully they are not a major threat to any indigenous bird species nor are they a pest to agricultural interests, rarely being found far from human habitation.

House sparrow at Mpila

House Sparrow

House Sparrows

House Sparrow

House Sparrow in Lower Sabie

Bathing House Sparrow (photo by Marilize)

House Sparrow (photo by Joubert)

Female House Sparrow

House Sparrow

**Lovebirds – Agapornis species**

Africa and Madagascar is home to nine species of Lovebird – a family of small parrots – but only one, the Rosy-faced Lovebird, occurs naturally in South Africa; in a tiny corner of the Northern Cape along the border with Namibia. Lovebirds are very popular in the pet trade, and it is probably due to escapees that feral populations of Lovebirds have become established in Pretoria and a few other locations in South Africa. Many of the Lovebirds now flying wild around our suburb have features in common with the Rosy-faced, Black-cheeked, Fischer’s, Lilian’s and Yellow-collared Lovebirds, but they are probably all hybrids of these and other kinds.

Lovebirds

Lovebird

Lovebirds

Feral Lovebird

Lovebirds

Lovebird

Lovebirds

Lovebird

Lovebirds

Rose-ringed Parakeet – Psittacula krameri

Rose-ringed Parakeets are native to the Indian subcontinent and a band stretching through Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia. Being popular in the pet trade escapees have established feral populations in various parts of the world, including South Africa, where large populations are found in Durban, Johannesburg and Pretoria. Thankfully a population that occurred around Sodwana in what is today the iSimangaliso Wetland Park seems to have died out. In large flocks Rose-ringed Parakeets can be a serious pest in orchards, and they displace native hole-nesting birds from prime habitat.

Flock of Rose-ringed Parakeets over Pretoria

Flock of Rose-ringed Parakeets mobbing a Pied Crow

Rose-ringed Parakeet

Rose-ringed Parakeets

Ring-necked Parakeet

Rose-ringed Parakeet – these exotics seem to have become established in the reserve.

Rose-ringed Parakeet

Rose-ringed Parakeets

Rock Dove – Columba livia

The Rock Dove, also known as the Common Pigeon, arrived in South Africa along with the first Dutch settlers in 1652 and soon became feral when they escaped domesticity. While today they are found in virtually every town and city in the country, their reliance on human habitation for food and nesting sites means that they are seldom encountered in our protected areas. Nevertheless they can be a serious nuisance and disease carrier.

Rock Dove

Indian Peafowl – Pavo cristatus

The beautiful peacock is another bird that made its way to South Africa as an ornamental many decades ago. While they were purposefully released on Robben Island, some of these birds escaped from farms and zoos and free-ranging populations can now be found widely in South Africa and especially in and around major urban centres.

Indian Peafowl

Indian Peacock feathers

Indian Peafowl

Indian Peafowl chick

Indian Peafowl hen (photo by Joubert)

Indian Peacock

Indian Peafowl hen and chicks

Carolina Wood Duck – Aix sponsa

While they do occasionally venture from their native North American haunts and have reached parts of Europe on these forays, it is much more likely that the occasional Carolina Wood Ducks seen in the wild in South Africa escaped from captivity. It would seem that no feral populations have yet become settled in the country.

Carolina Wood Duck – Aix sponsa

Carolina Wood Duck male in eclipse plumage

Carolina Wood Duck female (photo by Joubert)

Carolina Wood Duck female

Mallard – Anas platyrhynchos

The exotic Mallard, and its domesticated descendants, started invading South African wetlands around the 1980’s after escaping from farms and the collections of bird fanciers. They’re now found widely across the country with the biggest populations in and around the larger towns and cities. The Mallard poses a confirmed risk of crossbreeding with our indigenous African Black Duck and Yellow-billed Duck, diluting the genetic purity of these native species.

Mallard and domestic duck

Mallard drake

What is interesting is that these species are not problematic in their natural habitats and ranges, and only get their “bad rap” due to humans introducing them to places they don’t belong. In the same way some species that are native to South Africa have become invasive in other parts of the world – the blue kurper (Mozambique tilapia) for instance also counts among the 100 worst invaders in the world.

Green-backed Camaroptera

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Camaroptera brachyura

The Green-backed Camaroptera, also called the Bleating Camaroptera for its easily recognizable call, is found widely over sub-Saharan Africa in dense vegetation ranging from thickets in savannas to forests, where they feed almost exclusively on insects and other invertebrates caught in the undergrowth. In South Africa they’re found in the Lowveld and escarpment of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, through most of Kwazulu-Natal and as far south as the Garden Route along the Indian Ocean coast.

Adult Green-backed Camaropteras are usually encountered in pairs – they’re monogamous and breed in spring and summer. Their nests are ball-shaped formations of leaves held together by spider webs and fibres, built by both members of the pair. Parents take turns to incubate the clutch of 2-4 eggs over a 2 week period and both parents provide food for the hatchlings at the nest until they fledge about 2 weeks after hatching. Fully grown they measure around 13cm in length and weigh only about 11g.

The IUCN lists the Green-backed Camaroptera as being of least concern.

Green-backed Camaroptera

Green-backed Camaroptera (photo by Joubert)

Green-backed Camaroptera

Southern African Rock Python

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Python sebae natalensis

The largest snake occurring in Africa, and one of the biggest in the world, the African Rock Python is an impressive creature. Adult females are quite a bit heavier built than males and weigh around 55kg on average, attaining a length of around 4.8m though there are reports of snakes longer than 6m.

African Rock Pythons occur in a variety of habitats, from semi-arid scrub to riverine forests, and are fond of submerging in pools of water to ambush their prey. Adults will take prey as large as antelope and primates, constricting their prey before swallowing it whole. While it happens only very rarely, African Rock Pythons are capable of attacking and killing humans. They love to sunbathe on exposed rocks, especially after eating.

Females lay between 30 and 100 eggs, the size of tennis balls, in disused animal burrows, caves or termite mounds, and then curl around the clutch to protect them until they hatch after a 2-3 month incubation. She may even stay with the hatchlings until about two weeks after they’ve hatched. They may live from 12 to 27 years old in the wild.

Some authorities, including the IUCN, consider the southern race, P. s. natalenis, to be a separate species from the northern race (P. s. sebae). The Southern African Rock Python occurs from Kenya and the DRC southwards to South Africa, where they’re found in pockets of all provinces except the Western Cape and is considered a vulnerable and protected species. The IUCN considers the Southern African Rock Python to be of least concern. The Northern African Rock Python in turn is found from Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia to Senegal. Due to a decreasing population the IUCN considers it to be near-threatened.

Medium-sized African Rock Python seen at Middelvlei, between Letaba and Mopani

African Rock Python just north of Muntshe Mountain

Our best ever sighting of a wild python!

African Rock Python

African Rock Python (photo by Joubert)

Southern African Rock Python

The head of a Southern African Rock Python encountered on our Manyeleti Magic Photographic Safari

Long-billed Crombec

10 Replies

Sylvietta rufescens

An endearing and confiding little bird with a peculiarly short tail, the Long-billed Crombec is usually encountered singly or in pairs as they actively search for insects, seeds and fruit among the leaves and branches of trees and shrubs, often joining other kinds of insectivorous birds in feeding parties. They inhabit a wide range of wooded habitats, from thorny thickets along drainage lines in the arid Karoo to various woodland associations. They also readily venture into parks and suburban gardens.

Long-billed Crombecs form territorial, monogamous pairs and nest in the months of spring and summer. Their bag-shaped nests, hung from a branch and constructed of spider web, fibres, leaves, grass and wood chips, take at least a week to build. Clutches count 1-3 eggs and are incubated by both parents in turns over a 2 week period. The chicks leave the nest when they’re two weeks old and usually become independent of their parents around ten days after fledging. Adults weigh around 11g.

The Long-billed Crombec has a wide distribution in South Africa, occurring in every province of our country. North of our borders they can be found as far as Angola and the southern DRC. The IUCN considers the Long-billed Crombec to be of least concern.

Long-billed Crombec

Common Bush Brown Butterfly

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Bicyclus safitza

The Common Bush Brown inhabits savannas, woodlands and open forests on South Africa’s eastern coast and borders, stretching from Knysna on the Garden Route to the Soutpansberg in Limpopo. Adults have a wingspan of around 45mm and can be seen throughout the year, flying low to the ground and settling often. Males are darker than females. They are fond of rotting fruit.

Common Bush Brown butterfly

Common Bush Brown

Common Bush Brown (dry season form)

Common Bush Brown

Common Bush Browns in flight

Common Bush Brown

Common Bush Brown Butterfly

Common Bush Brown butterfly

Jameson’s Firefinch

16 Replies

Lagonosticta rhodopareia

The tiny (11cm, 9g) Jameson’s Firefinch is a bird of dry woodland and savanna, usually with a dense grass component and near water courses (they need ready access to surface water from a reliable source). They feed mainly on grass seeds supplemented with soft-bodied insects, being especially fond of termites.

Usually encountered in pairs or small groups, often in association with other small seed-eating birds, Jameson’s Firefinches are monogamous and may breed throughout the year. Their nests are oval-shaped, with a side-entrance, and built of grass by both partners, usually close to the ground in a dense shrub or grass tuft. The pair take turns at the incubation of the clutch of 2-7 eggs over a 2 week period. The hatchlings leave the nest when they’re almost 3 weeks old and then become independent of their parents within 2 weeks thereafter.

Jameson’s Firefinch is found in the northern provinces of South Africa and beyond our borders to Angola, the Congos, South Sudan and Ethiopia. The IUCN lists it as being of least concern.

Jameson’s Firefinch

Jameson’s Firefinch (photo by Joubert)

Jameson’s Firefinch

Forest Leopard Butterfly

20 Replies

Phalanta eurytis

In South Africa, the Forest Leopard Butterfly is found over most of Kwazulu-Natal and along the escarpment in Mpumalanga and Limpopo, where it inhabits dense woodland and forests (coastal, riverine and montane). Beyond our borders their distribution stretches through tropical Africa to Sudan and Ethiopia. Adults have a wingspan of about 45mm and are on the wing year round. They’re attracted to flowers and wet mud.

Forest Leopard butterfly

Brimstone Canary

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Crithagra sulphurata

In South Africa, Brimstone Canaries are found from the Western Cape through to Kwazulu-Natal’s north coast, and then along the escarpment of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, reflecting the species’ preference for coastal and montane thickets and forests. In the rest of Africa they’re also found patchily as far as Angola, the DRC, Uganda and Kenya. The IUCN considers it to be of least concern. They do venture into well-planted suburban gardens and exotic plantations.

Brimstone Canaries feed mainly on seeds and fruit and are rarely seen in flocks and then only in response to a localised food source, being more usually encountered singly, in pairs (which are monogamous) or family groups – often in association with other kinds of canaries. They may breed throughout the year, though mainly in the warmer months. The female builds the cup-shaped nest using grass and other fine plant materials in the fork of a tree, and incubates the clutch of 2-4 eggs over a 2 week period while the male provisions food for her at the nest. The chicks leave the nest when they’re between 2 and 3 weeks old but remain with their parents for quite some time after. Adults weigh about 29g and measure 15cm in length.