Southern African Wildlife by Unwin Mike;

Author:Unwin, Mike;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides Ltd
Published: 2022-05-14T00:00:00+00:00

Elegant and emblematic: blue cranes in South Africa’s Overberg. (Grobler du Preez/S)

The wattled crane (Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH/S) is a shyer species than the grey crowned crane (MU), with a more restricted distribution.

GAMEBIRDS

‘Gamebird’ is an unfortunate term, suggesting as it does the blast of the twelve-bore and simmering of the pot. It loosely embraces several related families, including, in Africa, the spurfowl, francolins, quails and guineafowl. All are plump, terrestrial birds, often found in small flocks, called coveys. They forage on the ground for plant and insect food, and, when pressed, fly directly with a rapid whirring of their short, broad wings. Some species have wicked spurs on their legs with which the males do territorial battle, and most have far-carrying, raucous calls.

Guineafowl

Guineafowl (Numididae) are chicken-sized, highly gregarious birds, whose fine polka-dotted plumage appears grey from a distance. Of the two species in southern Africa, the ubiquitous helmeted guineafowl (Numida meleagris), with its naked blue face and fleshy red casque, is much the more common, and a great delicacy for human and eagle alike. Quarrelsome flocks occur in all habitats, foraging in open areas and gathering in large numbers at waterholes. At night, guineafowl roost in trees, and early morning brings a chorus of clucking and churring as the birds set out for the day, flying down from their perches on whirring wings. Otherwise, guineafowl are reluctant to fly and will bound along in frantic strides for frustratingly long distances in front of a vehicle. The uncommon crested guineafowl (Guttera pucherani) inhabits indigenous forest in the north and east of the region. It is slightly smaller, with a black neck and a quirky black topknot of feathers. Troops move quietly along forest paths, scratching for food in the leaf litter.

Francolins, spurfowl and quails

Francolins and spurfowl (Phasianidae) are smaller and browner than guineafowl, with subtle markings that differ from one species to the next and raucous calls that provide a dawn awakening as rude as any rooster’s. There are 13 species in the region, several of which often forage tamely around gardens and campsites. Leg and bill colour can be helpful identification pointers. At 42cm, the Cape spurfowl (Pternistis capensis) is the largest, and frequents fynbos and thick scrub along the Cape coast. Its screeching cackle at dawn and dusk is familiar to residents of Cape Town, where coveys feed in local parks. Swainson’s spurfowl (Pternistis swainsonii) is a common bushveld species, whose rich brown plumage is offset by a bare red face. Like many francolins, it can often be seen picking through dung for titbits. The red-billed spurfowl (Pternistis adspersus) is the dominant species in the arid woodland of Botswana and Namibia, easily identified by its red bill and legs and yellow eye-ring. The crested francolin (Dendroperdix sephaena) prefers well-watered acacia woodland. It has streaked plumage, with a white eyebrow stripe, and cocks its tail like a bantam. The little coqui francolin (Peliperdix coqui) behaves more discreetly than others, creeping quietly over the ground in pairs. The male is attractively marked with a cinnamon head and barred underparts.

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