Carp's Tit

Melaniparus carpi

A black tit with a mostly white wing and outer tail. The sexes are similar, but females are slightly duller and browner. Found in arid savanna and mopane woodland. Usually in pairs or small groups, which are loud and conspicuous. Call is a classic tit “chee-chi-chi-chi-chi,” raspy and often repeated. Overlaps very locally with the very similar Southern Black-Tit in northern Namibia. Carp’s Tit can be identified by its all-black rather than white-barred undertail, and by having more white in the wing.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Melaniparus carpi
Authority
(Macdonald & Hall, BP, 1957)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Paridae
Genus
Melaniparus

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Other Birds

Madagascar Partridge

Madagascar Partridge

Margaroperdix madagarensis

Dark, chunky, medium-sized ground-dwelling bird. Distinctive male has a complex and beautiful pattern, while female is plainer and browner. Widespread in open habitats, most often grassland. Shy and inconspicuous; usually seen when explosively flushing from thick cover. Strangely quiet, which is unusual for a partridge. Found in similar habitats to quail and buttonquail, but much larger. When flushing, Madagascar Partridge has louder wings and more powerful flight. 

Papyrus Canary

Papyrus Canary

Crithagra koliensis

This canary is typical in its appearance but unusual in its papyrus-dwelling habits. The male and female are similar but the male is more boldly marked, especially on the face. Found in papyrus swamp and adjacent habitats. Uncommon and inconspicuous. The song is a complex mix of quiet twitters and whistles. Similar to Western Citril, but separated by the lack of a yellow eyebrow. Extremely similar to Southern Citril, and best separated by the more bulging, pinkish bill.

Dark Chanting-Goshawk

Dark Chanting-Goshawk

Melierax metabates

A tall, long-tailed, slaty-gray hawk with pink-orange legs and bill base. The flight feathers and wing tips are dark on both the upper and under wings, creating a uniformly dark wing pattern in flight. Pairs inhabit broadleaved woodland and well-wooded savanna. Chanting-goshawks give a strong, gull-like “kleeeu” call, hence their name. Dark Chanting-Goshawk always has a gray-barred rump, while other chanting-goshawks are paler, prefer drier habitats, and have unbarred white rumps. Eastern Chanting-Goshawk has yellow skin at the base of the bill. Pale Chanting-Goshawk has pale inner flight feathers and dark wing tips, creating a very contrasting wing pattern.

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