Okonjima

Okonjima Birding Pages

This section contains information on some of the latest birding highlights at Okonjima, as well as notes on how to identify some of the similar species you may see whilst staying with us.

Some of the latest additions to our bird list include the Painted Snipe seen at the water-hole at Bush Camp, and the African Harrier-Hawk (Gymnogene) seen at the cliffs on South Mountain. The Damara Hornbill is new in the sense that it is has only recently been recognised as a separate species to the Red-billed Hornbill.

Species suspected to occur: the following species have been recorded either a very long time ago, or are unsure records:

The three common doves.
It is not difficult to distinguish between these species, although all three are common around Okonjima, especially the lodges, and so you may want to know how to identify them. The Cape Turtle Dove has a black half-collar at the back of the neck, whereas the Laughing Dove has bronze speckling on its chest. The Namaqua Dove is smaller than the other two, with a long tail, and the male has a black face and throat, and a yellow bill. Just ask the guides to tell you which call belongs to which species.

The hornbills.
These are an interesting group, as the female closes up their nesting hole in a tree using mud, then uses her own droppings and nest lining to close herself inside. Once the chicks hatch she breaks out, then re-seals the nest to keep the young safe. Whilst inside the female moults all her feathers, though at different stages, and re-grows new ones ready for use once the young have grown enough for her to leave the nest. The common Monteiro's Hornbill often uses rock faces to nest in, closing it up in just the same way. This species differs from the Bradfield's Hornbill in having white outer tail feathers visible in flight. When perched in a tree, Monteiro's Hornbill has white spots on the wing (not so in Bradfield's) and a dark eye, (red in Bradfield's). The Damara Hornbill is the only hornbill with a white face and neck. Also occurring are the yellow-billed Hornbill (a similar but larger species than the Damara with a yellow bill) and the Grey hornbill, which is the only one with a dark bill which has a pale stripe.

Three species of woodhoopes occur at Okonjima, of which the Violet Woodhoopoe is the least common. This species is slightly larger than the similar Red-billed Woodhoopoe, and has a violet head and back, instead of the green tinge of the Red-billed. The Scimitarbill is a noticeably smaller woodhoopoe that has a more pronounced downward curve to its bill, and has black feet. It is also often seen singularly, whilst the other two species occur in groups.

The Bare-cheeked Babbler differs from the very similar Pied Babbler by having small black face markings behind the eye (actually a bare patch), a rufous nape and dark brown back. These areas are all white in the Pied Babbler.

Nesting weavers at Okonjima.
The Southern Masked Weaver has a red eye, a narrow black forehead, and brown legs. Its nest is a neat weaved dome that does not have an entrance tunnel. The Lesser Masked Weaver has a pale white eye, a broad black forehead, and much lighter coloured grey legs. Its nest is somewhat less tidily weaved than its counterpart, and it has a short entrance tunnel. The females do not have the black head markings like the males, and not such bright yellow either, but can be told apart using eye and leg colour.