300 Free Birds Countdown
*currently in Madrid*
Sunday, July 28, 2024
Sunday, June 23, 2024
Zimbabwe - Majestic birds
142. Grey crowned crane
Also known as golden-crowned crane or golden-crested crane. It is approximately 1m tall and has a wingspan of 2m. Found in almost all Africa.
143. Secretary bird
Impressive sub-saharan bird, with a body of an eagle and legs similar to that of a crane. It reaches up to 1.3m in height and 2m in wingspan. Can live up to 10-15 years in the wild. Great in hunting snakes, while using its long legs to avoid snake bites, and has a very strong and fast kick. It is one of the two bird species that hunt on the ground!
Secretary birds like to hunt in pairs, build their nests on thorny trees, lay two to three eggs and are thought to mate for life.
They are endangered.
144. Common ostrich (or South African ostrich)
The common ostrich, one of the two species of ostriches, is the largest and heaviest living bird.
145. Black-chested snake eagle
Easily to distinguish during flight because of the black head in combination with the barred-white underwing flight feathers.
146. African Harrier-Hawk
Easy to distinguish in the photos because of the wing and tail pattern, in combination with the bare facial skin.
April 2024, Zimbabwe
More from Zimbabwe
Next two birds are from the family of lapwings, ground nesting birds
134. White-crowned lapwing
135. Blacksmith Lapwings
136. Water thick-knee
137. Red-crested korhaan (or red-crested bustard)
138. Marsh sandpiper
139. Dark-capped bulbul
Noticeable yellow underpants!
140. Bohm's bee-eater
One of the thirty bee-eater species! Small in size and difficult to capture with an average camera
141. Blue Waxbill (Blue-breasted Cordonbleu)
April 2024, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe - more birds from Hwange
124. Southern ground hornbill
One of the two species of the family: ground hornbills. Unlike other hornbills, they are carnivorous.
125. Southern yellow-billed hornbill
Very similar to the red-billed hornbill (Zazu from Lion King)
126. Red-billed spurfowl
A.k.a red-billed francolin. Only found in southern Africa.
131. Grey go-away bird
Also known as grey lourie, easily distinguishable because of its distinctive crest and characteristic "go-away" sound.
132. Red-billed oxpecker
One of the two species of oxpeckers. As the name describes, they perch on large mammals, eating ticks, insects and parasites.
Zimbabwe - ducks and other water birds
121. White-faced whistling duck
122. Egyptian goose
Of African origin, but has been introduced to Europe, US and other places outside of its natural habitat.
123. Red-billed teal
Beatifully patterned teal, non-migratory but flies long distances to find water.
April 2024, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe - Beautiful doves, rollers and starlings from the savannah
115. Cape (Glossy) Starling