10,000 Birds

JANUARY 23, 2023

At vulture family gatherings, it is always a bit of a bother for the organizers to cater to the needs of the Palm Nut Vulture. It can have up to 8000 pieces and takes 3 to 6 weeks to complete” ( source ). The name is dutch-german for hammerhead. If you are a hammerhead, does everything look like a nail to you?

South Africa 147

South Africa Africa 2018 Birds 147

10,000 Birds

JUNE 12, 2012

Before self-rule it was administered by South Africa and known as South-West Africa. After a brutal colonization that included genocidal campaigns against the Herero (80% killed) and Nama (50% killed) tribes, the Germans lost control when South Africa invaded soon after the declaration of the First World War.

Namibia 270

Namibia Angola Lovebirds South Africa 270

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2022

A family motel and passion for responsible ecotourism brought her home to the Oregon Coast where she and her husband, Erik, adventure and record a podcast ( Hannah and Erik Go Birding ), created in an effort to inspire others to get out and bird. It is an extremely popular fundraising project with an almost cult-like following.

South Africa 264

South Africa Mice Albatross Africa 264

10,000 Birds

JULY 11, 2013

A dusty-red road leads me through Marico bushveld deeper into the 750 square kilometers large wilderness of the Madikwe Game Reserve – the 4th largest reserve in South Africa, home to 350 bird and 66 mammal species, some 4 hours’ drive from Johannesburg. Trips Mammals South Africa'

Africa 219

Africa South Africa Elephants Rhinos 219

10,000 Birds

MARCH 18, 2021

The losing streak of the bulbul family continues with some other species such as the … … Dark-capped Bulbul (Drakensberg area, South Africa; eBird: “a rather nondescript thrush-sized brown bird”) … … White-eared Bulbul (Mumbai, eBird: “a dull gray-brown bulbul). Lucia, South Africa).

South Africa 263

South Africa Malaysia Africa China 263

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 14, 2012

The wonderful family Meropidae contains 27 dazzling species, of which Africa is endowed with no less than 20 species, the balance occurring across Asia and with one as far afield as Australia. They are usually found in small family groups perched atop bushes or short trees, from whence they sally out to catch their prey.

Africa 266

Africa Gabon Uganda South Africa 266

10,000 Birds

JUNE 20, 2022

The Bearded Woodpecker (Mkuze, South Africa) does not really look any more bearded than many other woodpeckers. The name of the Cardinal Woodpecker (Letaba, South Africa) is misleading, as not all of them are Catholic or even cardinals. It is the most widespread woodpecker in Africa, claims the HBW. ”).

Woodpeckers 260

Woodpeckers South Africa China Singapore 260

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 1, 2011

I don’t think I’ve ever done a post on my home patch of Cape Town, South Africa. The little seaside village of Rooiels is famed for being a wonderful location to pick up some choice South African endemics but it is also one of the most beautiful spots in the Cape.

South Africa 256

South Africa Penguins Africa Birds 256

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 23, 2016

There are few families of birds where despite a cosmopolitan distribution I’m always so pleased to see any species of the family. The species is a common one, found from the Gambia to Somalia and from the Sudan to South Africa. Who doesn’t love a good owl? owls aren’t rare, but they are seldom easy.

Owls 223

Owls Somalia Gambia Sudan 223

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 17, 2022

The Crested Barbet (Kruger Park, South Africa) looks a bit like a pointillist painting gone wrong. Lucia, South Africa) will be your favorite. That Smith Family is so depressing”. Future generations of birdcage designers will probably adapt the dimensions of the wire. Pernice Brothers).

South Africa 245

South Africa Africa India China 245

10,000 Birds

MARCH 16, 2016

Madikwe , in South Africa, wasn’t a site of importance before it came into existence. And so South Africa’s fifth largest park came to be (it’s worth remembering that its largest park, Kruger, is the size of Israel) on marginal land that no one in particular could do much with. But they are very cute!

South Africa 178

South Africa Leopards Giraffes Africa 178

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2013

Fynbos is the distinctive vegetation type of the Cape region of South Africa. The Southern Double-collared Sunbird, Cinnyris chalybeus, flourishes amongst the fynbos but, unlike some of its close family, is not restricted to this habitat. It is characterised by plant communities such as Ericas, Aloes and Proteas.

South Africa 225

South Africa Africa Collecting Family 225

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 30, 2014

And at last the family Malaconotidae will show up on a 10,000 Birds search. The Malaconotidae are Bush-Shrikes, a family endemic to the continent of Africa and were split from the Laniidae Shrikes after it was shown that they were sufficiently different to warrant a new branch. Try it for yourselves; Bokmakierie.

South Africa 206

South Africa Africa Family Birds 206

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 23, 2020

I feel that like most bird families (with the obvious exception of pheasants), buntings are somewhat underrated. The Little Bunting – as the name suggests – is probably the cutest of the family. I am particularly fond of Tristam`s Bunting – maybe the smartest-looking of the family. In other words, they are my kind of birds.

South Africa 211

South Africa China Germany Africa 211

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2012

Africa has more than its fair share of storks, with 8 of the world’s 19 species gracing the continent. Furthermore we have another very special stork-like bird, the regal Shoebill , previously known as the Whale-headed Stork but now placed in its own family. They are also attracted by fires and can gather in thousands.

Africa 250

Africa Tanzania South Africa Uganda 250

10,000 Birds

JUNE 5, 2020

This week’s wine is a very easy-drinking white blend from the South African winery A.A. Badenhorst Family Wines. Badenhorst Family Wines – The Curator White Blend (2016) appeared first on 10,000 Birds. It’s going to be a pretty easy post for us, too, as there’s not a whole lot going on here bird-wise to discuss. (By

2016 164

2016 Family ADI 2008 164

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 26, 2021

I did that with Peacocks & Picathartes – Reflections on Africa’s birdlife (published by Penguin Random House South Africa ). In case you didn’t know, yes, there is an indigenous peacock living in Africa, the Congo Peafowl. So, could sunbirds actually have evolved in Indomalaya and spread west into Africa?”

Congo 264

Congo Africa Madagascar Kenya 264

10,000 Birds

MAY 12, 2013

This species is a southern African endemic, restricted to, but fortunately not uncommon, in dry woodland and sand forest habitats of northern Zululand, Swaziland, scattered pockets of north-eastern South Africa and southern Mozambique. Once their soft trilling call is learnt, they are easily detected.

Africa 239

Africa Somalia Mozambique Pelicans 239

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2011

Growing up within an hour of one of the world’s premier shorebird destinations -- West Coast National Park in South Africa -- helped for sure. Filming the plovers of Estero Lagoon Plovers are a significant part of the shorebird family, comprising 66 species worldwide. Firstly, shorebirds present a significant ID challenge.

Florida 220

Florida South Africa 2011 Africa 220

10,000 Birds

MARCH 13, 2012

mi (almost exactly the same size as Indiana), it is one of the smaller provinces of South Africa, but is the second most densely populated with over 10 million inhabitants. The famous Verreaux family who made several expeditions into the province through the 1820’s and 1830’s procuring specimens for rich collectors.

Mozambique 213

Mozambique South Africa Africa Collecting 213

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 10, 2015

Earlier this year, Duncan wrote a charming piece about Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens in Cape Town, South Africa. Promerops is a Southern African endemic family with the Cape Sugarbird, Promerops cafer , restricted to the very southern tip of the continent. It must be difficult maintaining their dignity some days.

South Africa 145

South Africa Africa Family Birds 145

10,000 Birds

APRIL 5, 2011

By age 2 she could identify over 10 species of birds in our Johannesburg, South Africa, yard by call alone. Astounding because she picked up birding before she could speak and surprising because this ability was definitely not inherited from anyone in my family, myself included. And perhaps 20 others by sight.

Birds 279

Birds Game South Africa Wildlife 279

10,000 Birds

JUNE 10, 2015

In many ways the weaver family is for Africa are similar beasts to the pseudowarblers of North America (sometimes called wood-warblers). In the meantime, in order to rectify this I present some images of the Village Weaver, a widespread African species that ranges from Senegal to Ethiopia and down to South Africa.

South Africa 154

South Africa Ethiopia Senegal Africa 154

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2012

Prime destinations for seeing African Elephant in the wild include Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Uganda. Black Rhinos are best sought in South Africa, Namibia and Tanzania. Lions are most easily found in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Buffalo 232

Buffalo Rhinoceros Leopards Elephants 232

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 14, 2012

True geese belong to the tribe or sub-family Anserini within the larger family Anatidae that encompasses ducks, geese and swans. And the Magpie Geese of the same country are believed to be neither ducks nor geese nor swans and are now placed within their own family Anseranatidae.

Geese 199

Geese Ducks Botswana Madagascar 199

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 3, 2020

But, unlike most books focused on a bird family, this one is organized geographically. Each chapter focuses on a specific geographic area of penguin population: (1) Antarctica, (2) South Georgia, (3) Falkland Islands, (4) South Africa and Tristan de Cunha, (5) New Zealand and Australia, (6) South America and Galapagos.

Penguins 279

Penguins Georgia Albatross New Zealand 279

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 18, 2015

I found out on my second day in Mkuze, a great game reserve in South Africa, earlier this year when on my first dark night, poor visibility, uneven ground and unsteady footing resulted in a twisted ankle and a day in camp keeping weight off it. Long-billed Crombecs are members of the African warbler family.

South Africa 145

South Africa Tortoises Leopards Woodpeckers 145

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 15, 2013

The Peru Birding Rally Challenge is a joint initiative between PromPeru and the Inkaterra Family of hotels. The idea is to hold the event bi-annually, once a year in the south of Peru and once in the North. In early December of 2012 we had the opportunity to cover this hard-core rally in the south of Peru.

Peru 252

Peru 2012 Bears Falcons 252

10,000 Birds

MARCH 18, 2015

This Cape Francolin was raising a family less than a hundred metres from the main gate. Birding Cape Town South Africa Urban Birding' When you stop to look at them, Helmeted Guineafowl are odd looking birds. This Egyptian Goose has perfected his smoldering come hither look. Is this a African Dusky Flycatcher? I don’t know.

Africa 207

Africa South Africa Mongoose Birds 207

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 3, 2014

Given that they are a family of obscure deepwater whales that are very hard to see, I would imagine this is a contender for one that will never leave my list. Trips albatrosses bucket lists South Africa wish lists' Given that I live on a nearby island I should really make the time to go and visit. A beaked whale.

Sharks 188

Sharks Leopards Snow Leopard Whales 188

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2016

A couple of years ago Adam posted a story on this site that so entranced me that when I went to South Africa a bit over a year ago the location he described was top of my bucket list. They are closely related to the oddball Rockfowl of Western Africa, and live in family groups, led by a breeding pair, in Southern Africa.

South Africa 107

South Africa Africa Family Groups 107

10,000 Birds

MARCH 29, 2015

We saw a smaller member of the potoo family, Northern Potoo , Nyctibius jamaicensis , at Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge, boating and birding the Salado River. I had seen Thick-Knees in South Africa, but I was very excited to see this species, which is the only member of its family found in Central America.

Honduras 262

Honduras Birds Costa Rica South Africa 262

10,000 Birds

JULY 9, 2019

Last week, a good friend, Dan Weisz gave me a tip on the location of a family of Burrowing Owls that were extremely easy to access. I can’t begin to tell you how much fun I had sitting and watching the antics of this family of Burrowing Owls. These are the Great Horned Owl fledglings that arrived in our RV Park a few days ago.

Owls 181

Owls Arizona Tucson South Africa 181

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 25, 2015

Early starts are the rule when monitoring endagered species in Mkuze Game Reserve, in South Africa, but there’s a particular urgency to this morning’s start. Like other social animals, his family connections were keeping him alive, as his family was feeding him.

Wolves 199

Wolves Lions Vet Dogs 199

10,000 Birds

APRIL 22, 2015

Mousebirds are a uniquely African family and they really brought it home to me that I was back in Africa after a decade. Another group that sings Africa to me are the antelopes. Trips hotel KwaZulu Natal Natal South Africa' Common Fiscal using a sculpture as a perch to watch for prey.

Africa 177

Africa South Africa Stud New Zealand 177

10,000 Birds

MAY 4, 2016

Africa is home to many striking and brightly coloured members of the starling family, a family that gets short thrift in many parts of the world due to the widespread introduction of a few rather, uh, domineering, species. So go to South Africa and find one! They will sit on tiles in search of a scrap though.

South Africa 100

South Africa Africa Family Species 100

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2015

Ethiopia, a landlocked country situated in the Horn of Africa, has firmly established itself as one of Africa’s top birding destinations. Its great diversity of habitats hosts an incredible bird count of over 900 species, including Africa’s 2nd highest list of endemics and near-endemics (after South Africa).

Ethiopia 254

Ethiopia Sudan Leopards Cattle 254