Calao leucomèle
Tockus leucomelas
Calao de taille moyenne, majoritairement noir et blanc, avec un bec jaune diagnostique qui lui vaut le surnom de « banane volante ». Les couples et les petits groupes occupent les semi-déserts, la savane et les bois de feuillus ; il s'associe étroitement aux humains dans les camps. Il saute au sol pour fourrager les invertébrés et s'envole dans les arbres lorsqu'il est dérangé. Il émet un « ko-ko, ko-ko » continu et roulant, montant en crescendo en « ko-kukuk, ko-kukuk, ko-kukuk », avec les ailes ouvertes et la tête inclinée.
Identification
It is a medium-sized bird, 48–60 cm (19–24 in) in length, 132–242 g (0.29–0.53 lb) in weight and is characterized by a long yellow and down-curved beak. This beak is huge in comparison to its body and can account for up 1/6th of the entire body length. Male beaks are on average 90 mm long while female beaks are an average of 74 mm. Males are generally bigger than females but there is overlap between the sexes. The size difference of the beak is a fairly reliable way of differentiating sex in wild hornbills.<p>The casque that characterizes all hornbills is of a very modest size in the southern yellow-billed hornbill. It is small, but it covers almost the entire length of the beak in males (less so in females), and may give the impression that they do not actually have a casque. As in all hornbills, the size of the beak actually intrudes on the frontal vision of the bird and the first two neck vertebrae are fused together.<p>Also, like most other hornbills, they possess a long tail, long eyelashes, stubby legs and stubby toes. The front three toes are fused together near the base.<p>They have white belly, grey neck, and black back plumage with abundant white spots and stripes. The neck has gray spots and the chest is lightly striated with black. Southern yellow-billed hornbills have no plumage pigmentation save for melanin, which can only produce shades of black and white. The eyes are usually yellow, though brown has also been seen. The skin around the eyes and in the malar stripe is pinkish. The related eastern yellow-billed hornbill from north-eastern Africa has blackish skin around the eyes.
Taxonomie
- Nom scientifique
- Tockus leucomelas
- Autorité
- (Lichtenstein, MHC, 1842)
- Ordre
- Bucerotiformes
- Famille
- Bucérotidés
- Genre
- Tockus
Répartition et habitat
These birds are near endemic to the dry savannas of southern Africa, where they can be found across all longitudes, from Angola and Namibia in the west to Mozambique and KwaZulu-Natal in the east, including Botswana, Zimbabwe and northern South Africa.<p>The southern yellow-billed hornbill lives mostly in the dry, open savannas, but they are also very partial to woodlands when they can find them. When in woodlands, they seem to prefer acacia and broadleaved woodlands. The highest reported concentration of southern yellow-billed hornbill is in open mopane scrub.
- Migration
- Resident species
Comportement
The southern yellow-billed hornbill is active during morning, day and evening. At night, it will sleep high in a tree so it won't be preyed on. They can be found alone, in couples or in small groups. They generally tend to be loners unless it is breeding season, nesting season or if there is local migration during dry season.<p>The southern yellow-billed hornbill is often seen searching for food on the ground or in shrubs. It will not dig the ground, but it will overturn debris to find insects. It can also be seen pursuing insects by hopping heavily after it.<p>They are generally sedentary and they will defend their territories with elaborate displays. However, during the dry season, they will sometimes range widely in order to find food. Couples are usually monogamous and have a clear division of labour between males and females.<p>They have been known to live for up to 20 years in captivity, though their longevity in the wild remains unknown.
Conservation
- Tendance de la population
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Chants d'Oiseaux
Autres Oiseaux
Acanthize de Papouasie
Acanthiza murina
Petit oiseau de la canopée et des buissons des forêts d'altitude et subalpines. Parties supérieures brun terne, parties inférieures blanchâtres et tête, cou et haut de la poitrine teintés de jaunâtre. Notez l'œil blanc et perlé, la joue grisonnante et le bec relativement court. Fourrage très activement et constamment, souvent en volées mixtes avec les Séricornes de Papouasie et les Grands Séricornes. Similaire à la Gérygone à poitrine brune, mais l'Acanthize de Papouasie est plus commun à des altitudes plus élevées et évite les habitats plus ouverts. Vocalisations : diverses notes aiguës et grincements.
Milan isura
Lophoictinia isura
Rapace peu commun et discret avec un bec assez petit. L'adulte a une tête pâle et des parties inférieures rougeâtres avec des stries noires sur le cou. Le juvénile a une tête plus rougeâtre avec moins de stries. En vol, la queue a des coins carrés évidents avec une bande sombre à la base. Il plane au-dessus des habitats boisés juste au-dessus de la canopée des arbres, généralement avec peu de mouvements d'ailes. Se rencontre seul ou en couples. À distance, et particulièrement lorsqu'il est très usé, veillez à ne pas confondre les juvéniles avec le Milan noir, qui a un plumage à motif plus uniforme.
Colombe-perdrix à front blanc
Geotrygon leucometopia
Une colombe trapue, iridescente, d'un violet profond des forêts denses et des plantations de café. On la trouve typiquement au sol marchant parmi la litière de feuilles, parfois en compagnie des Colombes-rouges ou des Colombes des Key West. Sa tête non rayée, sa tache blanche sur le front et son corps violet iridescent éliminent les autres espèces de son aire de répartition. Son chant est un « oop-oop… » émis sans interruption, parfois pendant plusieurs minutes.
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