Cape Cormorant
Phalacrocorax capensis
A medium-sized, glossy, marine cormorant that is frequently seen in enormous foraging flocks offshore; also dominates rocky coastal roosting sites. Combination of its rounded crestless head, orange throat pouch, and stunning turquoise eye easily identifies adults. Non-breeding and immature plumages are duller, but size and head shape are characteristic. It is the default marine cormorant within its range and forages in much deeper waters than other cormorants.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Phalacrocorax capensis
- Authority
- (Sparrman, 1788)
- Order
- Suliformes
- Family
- Phalacrocoracidae
- Genus
- Phalacrocorax
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Blue-headed Wood-Dove
Turtur brehmeri
A shy dove of lowland tropical forest, rarely seen away from intact forest habitats. Distinct from other small African doves in its uniform ruddy plumage and blue-gray head and hindneck. Call is a series of hollow hoots that increase in speed and sometimes waver slightly in pitch. Song is very similar to that of other wood-doves, but other wood-doves prefer more disturbed or more open habitats.
Chestnut-naped Spurfowl
Pternistis castaneicollis
A large, colorful francolin with chestnut and black on the head, and rufous on the heavily marked neck and underparts. The bill and legs are red. Found at middle and high elevations in alpine heath and forest edge habitat, often in pairs or small groups. Similar in size and shape to Erckel’s Francolin, but distinguished by different overall coloration and red bill and legs. The call is a repeated loud, grating “kek” or “ker-krek.”
Greater Scythebill
Drymotoxeres pucheranii
Bulky woodcreeper with a stout, deeply curved bill. Very rare in tall, wet Andean cloud forest. Brown with buffy streaks on head, neck, and underparts. Dual white stripes on face and thicker bill distinguish it from Brown-billed Scythebill. Usually found alone, sometimes with mixed-species flocks; probes for insects while creeping along moss-covered trunks and branches. Gives a variety of nasal, whiny-sounding squeaks.
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