African Spoonbill
Platalea alba
The African Spoonbill is a large, white wading bird with a distinctive long, flat bill that ends in a spoon-like shape. Its legs are red, and during the breeding season, it develops a bare red face, adding to its unique appearance.
Behaviour: African Spoonbills are often seen sweeping their spoon-shaped bills from side to side in shallow water, a technique used to catch small fish, crustaceans, and insects. They are social birds, frequently found in small flocks, and their feeding behaviour is usually accompanied by soft grunting sounds.
Black-Headed Heron
Ardea melanocephala
The Black-Headed Heron is a tall, striking bird with a dark grey body, a black head and neck, and a contrasting white throat. Its long, sharp bill is greyish-yellow, and its legs are black, making it well-adapted for wading in shallow waters.
Behaviour: This heron is often seen alone, standing still or slowly walking through wetlands as it hunts for fish, amphibians, and small mammals. Black-Headed Herons are known for their patience, waiting motionless for long periods before swiftly striking their prey.
Black-Winged Stilt
Himantopus himantopus
The Black-Winged Stilt is a tall, slender wader with long, pink legs and a thin, straight black bill. Its plumage is a striking contrast of white and black, with a white head and body and black wings and back.
Behaviour: These birds are often seen wading in shallow waters, using their long legs to navigate through marshes and mudflats. Black-Winged Stilts feed on small invertebrates, insects, and crustaceans, which they pick from the surface of the water or mud.
Cape Shoveler
Spatula smithii
The Cape Shoveler is a medium-sized duck with a distinctive large, spatula-shaped bill. Its plumage is a mix of mottled brown and grey,with a pale blue wing patch. The male has a yellow eye, which contrasts with its otherwise subdued colouring.
Behaviour: Cape Shovelers are typically seen in pairs or small groups, sifting through the water with their broad bills to filter out food. They prefer shallow, marshy waters where they feed on aquatic plants, seeds, and small invertebrates.
Cape Weaver
Ploceus capensis
The Cape Weaver is a medium-sized bird with a yellow-orange body, a chestnut-brown throat, and a strong conical bill. The male’s plumage becomes especially vibrant during the breeding season, while the female is duller in comparison, with olive-brown upperparts and yellow underparts.
Behaviour: Cape Weavers are also expert nest builders, with the males constructing complex, woven nests that hang from branches. These birds are usually found in large, noisy colonies, where they feed on seeds, insects, and nectar.
Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucos
The Common Sandpiper is a small, slender wader with brown upperparts and white underparts. It has a distinctive white eye stripe and a slightly down-curved bill. Its legs are short and yellowish, and it often exhibits a characteristic bobbing motion.
Behaviour: Common Sandpipers are active foragers, constantly moving along the water's edge in search of insects, small crustaceans, and worms. They are usually solitary but may be seen in small flocks during migration. When disturbed, they take off with rapid, jerky wing beats and a sharp, whistling call.
Egyptian Goose
Alopochen aegyptiaca
The Egyptian Goose is a large, sturdy bird with a striking appearance. It has a pale brown body, marked with dark eye patches and chestnut-coloured breast spots. The wings are a mix of white, green, and black, and its legs and beak are a distinctive pink.
Behaviour: These geese are often seen in pairs or small flocks, grazing on grasses or swimming in the ponds of Riverlands. Known for their loud, honking calls, they are territorial and will defend their nesting sites.
Grey Heron
Ardea cinerea
The Grey Heron is a large bird with long neck and legs, making it prominent in wetlands. Its plumage is mostly grey, with a white face and a distinctive black stripe extending from the eye to the back of the head.
Behaviour: Grey Herons are solitary hunters, often seen standing still in shallow water, waiting to strike at fish. They may also slowly wade through the water, searching for prey. During courtship, they emit harsh croaking sounds.
Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
The Little Egret is a small, graceful heron with all-white plumage, long black legs, and yellow feet. During the breeding season, it develops long, delicate plumes on its back, chest, and nape, which add to its elegant appearance.
Behaviour: Little Egrets are active foragers, often seen stalking through shallow water in search of fish, insects, and small crustaceans. They may use their feet to stir up the water, flushing out prey, or stand motionless before striking with their sharp bill. These birds are usually silent but may produce a soft, rasping call.
Little Rush Warbler
Bradypterus baboecala
The Little Rush Warbler is a small, brown bird with a rounded body and a slightly upturned tail. Its plumage is a uniform brown, with subtle streaking on the back and wings, and it has a pale eye ring that gives it a gentle expression.
Behaviour: The Little Rush Warblers are often heard rather than seen, as they prefer to stay hidden in dense reeds.
Malachite Kingfisher
Corythornis cristatus
The Malachite Kingfisher is a small, vibrantly coloured bird with a striking blue back, wings, and crown, accented by a fiery orange-red bill and legs. Found near rivers, lakes, and wetlands, this bird is a jewel of the waterways.
Behaviour: Malachite Kingfishers are solitary hunters, perching silently before diving to catch small fish and aquatic insects. Their swift dives showcase their excellent vision and agility. When not hunting, they can be seen flitting over the water or resting on reeds.
Pied Kingfisher
Ceryle rudis
The Pied Kingfisher is a medium-sized bird with a distinctive black-and-white plumage. Its head is marked with bold black bands across the crown and face, and its white chest is adorned with a black breast band. The wings and back display a striking pattern of black and white, giving the bird its name.
Behaviour: Pied Kingfishers are often seen in pairs or small groups. They hover above the water before diving to snatch fish.
Southern Double-Collared Sunbird
Cinnyris chalybeus
This small bird has metallic green feathers on its head and back, a red band across its chest, and a blue collar. Males are more brightly coloured than the olive-green females. These sunbirds are often seen flitting around flowering plants, feeding on nectar.
Behaviour: Sunbirds are active and agile, flitting between flowers. They hover briefly before perching to feed, sometimes catching insects. Their energetic movements and bright plumage make them a standout species, contributing to pollination.
Southern Masked Weaver
Ploceus velatus
The Southern Masked Weaver is a small, brightly coloured bird with a yellow body and a black face mask. The male is more vibrant during breeding season.
Behaviour: These weavers are known for their intricate nests. Males build spherical nests from grass and leaves, suspended from branches. They are social birds, often found in noisy colonies with constant chirping and calls.
Yellow-Billed Duck
Anas undulata
The Yellow-Billed Duck is a medium-sized duck with a greyish-brown body and a bright yellow bill. The wings have a green speculum edged with black and white.
Behaviour: This duck is found in shallow waters, feeding on aquatic plants, insects, and invertebrates. Males produce a soft whistling call during breeding season. They are often seen in small flocks.
