Southern Malawi header: Lilian's Lovebirds

Systemmatic list - part 23: Thrushes, Mynas, Starlings and Oxpeckers

 

Kurrichane Thrush Turdus libonyanus [4-5]

2 Dzalanyama 23rd and 24th and 1 Chongoni 25th.

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Kurrichane Thrush, Dzalanyama, 24th May 2011

 

Common Myna (Indian Myna) Acridotheres tristis [2]

In South Africa 2 Johannesburg Airport 14th. I didn't expect my first lifer of the trip to be an introduced species from Asia!

 

Wattled Starling creatophora cinerea [1]

1 Liwonde 27th. This was perched distantly on a bush next to a Lilac-breasted Roller during the early morning guided walk. The guide was unable to identify it and, with the rest of the party not so interested in distant passerines (elephants are better!) I had frustratingly little time to nail it. The field guides show a much whiter bird for Wattled Starling but upon my return to England a wider perusal of internet images indicated that such dull tones are perfectly within range for juvenile Wattled Starling.

 

Wattled Starling (with Lilac-breasted Roller in lower photo), Liwonde, 27th May 2011

 

Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling (Greater Blue-eared Starling) Lamprotornis chalybaeus [20+]

10-12 Lengwe 20th-21st and 2 Liwonde each day 25th-27th. In addition a Blue-eared Starling between Cape Maclear and Mangochi 19th was probably this species.

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Greater Blue-eared Glossy Starling, Lengwe, 20th May 2011

 

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Greater Blue-eared Glossy Starlings, Lengwe, 20th May 2011 (left) and Liwonde, 26th May 2011 (right)

 

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Greater Blue-eared Glossy Starlings, Liwonde, 27th May 2011

 

Meves' Glossy-Starling (Meves' Starling, Southern Long-tailed Starling) Lamprotornis mevesii [>50]

10-40 Liwonde 25th-27th.

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Meves' Glossy Starlings, Liwonde, 26th May 2011

 

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Meves' Glossy Starling, Liwonde, 25th May 2011

 

Red-winged Starling (African Red-winged Starling) Onychognathus morio [12]

12 seen only in flight at Cape Maclear 18th.

 

Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorhynchus [c50]

At Liwonde up to 40 25th-26th. Birds were seen on Hippopotamus, Kudu, Sable Antelope, Zebra and Bush Pig. In addition 5 unidentified Oxpeckers at dusk at Lengwe 20th were very probably this species.

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Red-billed Oxpeckers, Liwonde, 26th May 2011 (on Sable Antelope, Bush Pig and Greater Kudu)

 

 

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