Ian Sinclair - Sasol Birds of Southern Africa

Published by Struik Nature

(an imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa (Pty) Ltd)

Reg. No. 1953/000441/07

The Estuaries No. 4, Oxbow Crescent, Century Avenue, Century City 7441

PO Box 1144, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa

Visit www.penguinrandomhouse.co.za and join the Struik Nature Club for updates, news, events and special offers.

First published in 1993

Second edition 1997

Third edition 2002

Fourth edition 2011

Fifth edition 2020

1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2

Copyright in text, 1993, 1997, 2002, 2011, 2020: The authors

Copyright in illustrations, 1993, 1997, 2002, 2011, 2020:

Variously Penguin Random House South Africa (Pty) Ltd,

Norman Arlott, FH Chamberlain Trading (Pty) Ltd (contact the publisher for further details)

Copyright in maps, 1993, 1997, 2002, 2011, 2020: Penguin Random House South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Copyright in published edition, 1993, 1997, 2002, 2011, 2020:

Penguin Random House South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Publisher: Pippa Parker

Managing editor: Roelien Theron

Editor: Colette Alves

Designer: Dominic Robson

Proofreader: Emsie du Plessis

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner(s).

ISBN 978 1 77584 668 0 (Print: English softcover)

ISBN 978 1 77584 670 3 (Print: English PVC cover)

ISBN 978 1 77584 669 7 (ePub)

Also available in Afrikaans as Sasol Vols van Suider-Afrika

ISBN 978 1 77584 671 0 (Print: Afrikaans softcover)

ISBN 978 1 77584 673 4 (Print: Afrikaans PVC cover)

ISBN 978 1 77584 672 7 (ePub)

The app, Sasol eBirds Southern Africa, is available for Apple iOS or Android

Data for distribution maps and status bars were mostly taken from the South African Bird Atlas Project 2
(SABAP2; http://sabap2.birdmap.africa) and the 7th edition of Roberts Birds of Southern Africa
(John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, 2005). Please consult these sources for more information.

CONTENTS

AUTHORS ACKNOWLEDGeMENTS

A key goal for the fifth edition was to update as much of the artwork as possible. Principal artist Norman Arlott provided many new images, with additional new artwork supplied by Faansie Peacock (seabirds, nightjars) and Alan Harris (raptors and sundry other species). We thank Peter Hayman for the use of his images from the original edition. Our sincere thanks go to the Struik Nature team in particular Pippa Parker, Colette Alves and Dominic Robson for their hard work and all the effort that went into this fifth edition. We also thank our generous sponsors, Sasol, for their ongoing support.

Since the first Sasol guide was published in 1993, many friends and colleagues have contributed to improving the text, maps and illustrations. Their constructive criticism and readiness to give of their time is much appreciated. In particular, we are grateful to David Allan, Rodney Cassidy, Alvin Cope, Adrian Craig, Richard Dean, Wayne Delport, Trevor Hardaker, Rob Little, Alan Kemp, Joris Komen, Rob Leslie, Etienne Marais and Morn du Plessis, and John Graham and Mike Buckham, who helped check proofs. We are also grateful to the following friends who have since passed on, whose comments greatly improved earlier editions: Richard Brooke, Tony Harris, Terry Oatley and Barrie Rose. Finally, without the understanding and patience of family and friends, who adapted to our frequent long absences in the field, this volume would still be in the making.

ARTISTS ACKNOWLEDGeMENTS

My thanks go to the following for their help in supplying answers to queries that cropped up during the preparation of my artwork: Roger Mitchell, Dr John Fanshawe, the late Dr Richard Liversidge, and the staff of the Natural History Museum at Tring, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom especially Mark Adams and Dr Robert Prys-Jones. I also owe a great debt to the late John G Williams, who inspired my fanatic interest in Africa and its birds, and an unpayable debt to my wife, Marie, for managing a home and family while I spent days and weeks researching in museum and field. Norman Arlott

Even though I never left my studio, it was an honour to spend a few months mentally among the ocean swells while preparing the pelagic plates. It is my sincere hope that increased interest in this spectacular group of birds will help birders unravel the mysteries surrounding seabirds many of which face severe pressures at sea and at their remote breeding colonies. I am grateful to both the team at Struik Nature and the team of authors for providing valuable references, feedback and comments. Faansie Peacock

I thank Malcolm Wilson for providing invaluable references, and for linking me to his wide network of colleagues, including Dr Mark Brown and Niel Cilli, who were both most helpful in their specialist areas. I am also grateful to the authors for their feedback and guidance in developing the plates. Alan Harris

I acknowledge the help of the following people and institutions for their assistance: the staff of the Natural History Museum at Tring, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, in particular Peter Colston, Michael Walters, Jo Bailey, Mark Adams and Mrs FE Warr; Dr Alan Kemp, former curator of the Ornithology Department of the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History (formerly the Transvaal Museum) in Pretoria; Joris Komen, former curator of birds, State Museum of Namibia; Dr Clem Fisher, Liverpool Museum; the Library of BirdLife International (ICBP), Cambridge; the Iziko South African Museum, Cape Town; David Allan and Rob Hume. Peter Hayman

PUBLISHERS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The publisher would like to thank Sasol Limited for its continued generous sponsorship, without which the production of this book at a competitive price would not have been possible.

The publisher gratefully acknowledges FH Chamberlain Trading (Pty) Ltd for permission to re-use some illustrations from Chamberlains Birds of Africa south of the Sahara, 2nd edition.

Over two decades have elapsed since Sasol first started sponsoring the production of natural history publications.

Southern Africa boasts a magnificent biodiversity, with a rich and varied birdlife that plays a vital role in maintaining the balance of nature. It has long been recognised that birds contribute to the ecosystems in which they live. As birds are a common sight in our daily lives, it is sometimes easy to forget the important role they play in maintaining and restoring the balance of natural ecosystems; they are also reliable feathered barometers of the state of our biodiversity. So important is their place in our world, that we would not be able to cherish spring without their abundance of colours and sounds, or admire the flocks that undertake seasonal migrations.

Sasol has been sponsoring a number of environmental publications with a particular focus on birds and bird-related activities for many years as part of our commitment to the conservation of our regions natural heritage for both present and future generations. Our support for environmental publications and projects is aimed at promoting an appreciation of our heritage.