With migrants flooding back in and a ton of resident birds kicking off their breeding season, the birding at Londolozi is absolutely spectacular at the moment. Constant song and colour greets us every morning as the avian population start their days, seeking mates, demarcating territory and looking for food.
It’s easy to get rusty during the winter though, forgetting the migrants’ calls, or even what some of the more obscure ones are. November and December are very much refresher months in our birding world.
That being said, here’s the latest in our Bird ID Challenge series:
They haven’t really been seen in the last 6 months… much…
Good luck. Answer to be revealed in Friday’s Week in Picture…
James, could it be a Thrush?
Pretty sure that this is an immture black cuckooshrike
Huge guess here, but going with female black cuckooshrike.
Hi James. On the basis that the yellow in the wings is just evening light I am going with an immature Red-backed Shrine
Some good answers everyone. One of you is correct so far… Wait for Friday for the answer…
As a non birder, I googled migratory birds for South Africa…. I’m guessing a shrike based on the head and wing color.
I’m guessing that it’s a thrush.
It’s a juvenile Dideric cuckoo
Female Black Cuckooshrike
Juvenile Klaas ‘s Cuckoo??
After much research (there are so many different birding websites!), I’m going with the Black Cuckoo Shrike!
Klaas’s Cuckoo (female)
Hi All,
My sincere apologies for forgetting to put the answer of the Bird ID into TWIP!
The correct answer is a female Black Cuckooshrike. It’s a tricky one, as these birds can at first glance easily be mistake for a weaver or one of the cuckoo species.
Congrats to all who got it right!