Black-bellied Cicadabird

A chunky, streak-backed warbler with a rusty head and wings, a ragged rufous tail, and black moustache stripes. It avoids woodland and trees, preferring rank areas with long grass, scrubby edge, and wet heathland (fynbos). It hops and clambers through dense brush and thickets, then flies low on rapidly-beating wings in labored flight to the next bush, immediately diving into cover. But it will also perch on prominent tall shrubs, like proteas, and sing its melodious tinkling jumbled song that starts softly and gets progressively louder. It also has a distinctive flat mewing “meeeeep” call. The Moustached Grass-Warbler is similar to the Cape Grassbird, but it has a plain unstreaked back, a broad black tail, and a pale eye.

Enormous black cockatoo with yellow cheek patches and tail panels. Most often observed flying above woodland or feeding in trees. Typically feeds on seeds and insect larvae, but also known to frequently consume pine cones from introduced tree species. Call is a loud, distinctive, mournful wailing sound.

Boldly patterned black-and-red bushshrike with a yellow crown and pale eyes. The duller immature has orange underparts and a gray crown. Found in papyrus swamps, where it skulks with great skill. The male gives ringing “chonk” or “chuwee” notes, often in rapid-fire or up-and-down series. The female gives a low ratcheting call which is sometimes given in a duet alongside the male’s vocalizations. Similar to Black-headed Gonolek, but has a yellow crown and a white wingbar.