Ever wondered where the scientific or common name of a bird originated or where a bird species was first found and described? In South Africa, most people who are interested in birds are familiar or grew up with editions such as “Roberts” or other old bird books. Most of the information in such publications, including colour plates and sketches, is obtained from specimens collected in the wild and then curated as museum specimens.
Introduction
A diagnosis and an identification of a species or any other recognized taxon imply two distinct things. Essentially, the ability to identify a species is the ability to recognize individuals in the field, whether they are at Brakfontein Private Nature Reserve, Wesselsbron in the Free State or in the Melmoth area, KwaZulu-Natal, and to say what species they belong to.
This article explores the relationship between the Greater Honeyguides and humans, as well as cooperation between these birds and Honey Badgers.
Imagine you are busy birding and walking in a field with low shrub vegetation in the southern Free State or in the Central Karoo and your attention is drawn to a constantly high pitched tee-tee-tee bird sound near you. Suddenly a small prinia-like bird with a long tail flies out of a low bush or runs like a mouse in front you. This bird is likely to be the elusive Rufous-eared Warbler…
Since the early 19th century collecting bird eggs was a popular hobby for naturalists worldwide. Many private collections were later donated to museums for curation. Egg collecting and the study of eggs is known as oology which is one aspect of ornithological research. Egg collectors mostly collect eggs from birds’ nests for their own private collections.