07/07/2026
KNOW YOUR BIRDS
1. Top Image: KURRICHANE THRUSH (Turdus libonyana)🐥
This is a classic indigenous woodland resident. You can often spot them hopping around on the ground, vigorously tossing leaf litter aside to find insects.
Key Identification Marks:
Bill: A bright, conspicuous orange-to-reddish beak.
Throat: Distinct white throat bordered by dark whisker-like streaks (malar stripes).
Underparts: Warm, pale-orange or apricot flanks contrasting with a white belly.
Upperparts: A clean, uniform greyish-brown back and head.
2. Bottom Image: COMMON MYNA (Acridotheres tristis)🐥
Originally native to Asia, the Common Myna is a highly adaptable, bold, and opportunistic bird. In Southern Africa, they are a well-known invasive species, heavily associated with human settlements, towns, and camps.
Key Identification Marks:
Head & Eye: A black head with a prominent, bare yellow patch of skin right behind and around the eye.
Bill & Legs: Bright yellow legs and a matching sharp yellow bill.
Body: A rich chocolate-brown body with a white patch under the tail (and flashing white wing patches when they fly).
Behavior Note: They are incredibly vocal, excellent mimics, and highly territorial, often competing robustly with local cavity-nesting birds for breeding spots.
