This is a bird that sits at the top of everyone’s bucket list, but upon our arrival in Costa Rica, the local guides informed us they weren’t active. We had nearly given up hope and put this strange-looking species out of our minds. However, as we neared the site, we received an update that they were active again. We decided to take a chance. To our absolute surprise, after only a short walk, we found them. The view improved from twenty meters overhead to an incredible eye-level encounter just two meters away. It was the amazing feeling of a lost opportunity turned into a found treasure.
This is the second Manakin species we have encountered, and watching its display was truly amazing. While we didn’t manage to record a video of the performance this time, we will try to share its unique calls and movements with you in the near future.
This bird was at the top of my wish list, especially because I wanted to see its famous moonwalk display. We were fortunate to witness it at eye level in a pristine environment. Although we were at an excellent feeding station with great opportunities to photograph owls, toucans, and other species, we chose to skip those to focus on this Manakin. While we were on the jungle trail, heavy rain forced us to stop and wait in silence. Fortunately, the rain ceased after about ten minutes, and we immediately heard the bird calling from the exact spot where we had taken shelter. Shortly after, Raul signaled us over, and there it was. We had an incredible session capturing both video and photos of this amazing creature.
Our Costa Rica birding adventure is officially underway. We spent a pre-tour day at the hotel to adjust to the time difference and managed to photograph about 25 species right on the grounds, including this charming little owl. On the first official day of the tour, we spotted and photographed 65 species, featuring this same owl in an impressively spirited pose. We have encountered so many incredible species and captured so many great shots already. Stay tuned for more updates.
Day 5 of our Costa Rica birding expedition and we have already photographed 151 species. We have encountered so many incredible birds, including this remarkable, secretive Lesser Ground-Cuckoo. Its behavior reminds me of the other two species I have photographed; it calls and then moves like a ghost—approaching silently, but jumping into the trees to call again once it is alert. What an amazing day and a stunning bird. I am so grateful to our local guide for their expertise and for giving us a second chance to track down this bird.
On our way back to the hotel after a boat ride, our guide heard an owl calling. We rushed over with limited light and soon spotted this beautiful Black-and-white Owl perched right by the roadside. Such a stunning bird.
This is one of those common yet incredibly beautiful birds to photograph. On the second day of our tour, we managed to spot it twice, capturing lovely moments both times. It is now day seven, and we have photographed 206 species. As we begin the highland portion of the trip, we just successfully found the primary target for everyone on the tour: the Resplendent Quetzal. More to come soon.
We’re offering a special tour led by expert local guides to track down one of the region’s rarest owls. Our latest outing was a huge success—in just two hours, we spotted two mammals, one owl, and one nightjar. Although the owl was vocal, it remained shy and difficult to spot on the forest trails. Fortunately, through persistence and teamwork, almost everyone in the group managed to capture photos of it at different locations. Great effort by the whole team.
It was a freezing morning at around –6°C. We went to Napa Lake mainly to revisit some good memories from years ago. After waiting for a beautiful sunrise, I was almost ready to return to the car when I suddenly heard a bird calling very close by. The bird stayed low to the ground, barely moving—likely due to the cold—with ice clearly visible around it.
I managed to capture some close shots, and that moment became the happiest highlight of this casual, relaxing trip to Yunnan.
This bird was one of our trip’s main targets! We initially found one on its nest, but everyone was hoping to see its famous wing display. We decided to spend some extra time searching, and luckily, it didn’t take long to find another one. It put on a spectacular show, spreading its beautiful wings for us several times.
This was another primary target of our tour. We successfully located the bird on our first attempt in the evening, securing fantastic views and photos. Despite the initial success, the group wanted to visit a second site, which provided even better photographic opportunities for this spectacular species. With 8 days remaining, our photo count has reached 308 species, with many more to come.
Day 13, we photographed 351 species of bird and managed to have some very excited targets and few more days to go ..
it is one of very special look target of ours Costa Rica 2026 Birding our, we didn’t find one at first location and managed to got this bird at 2nd location almost immediate we start ours river cruise. Such a special look bird ..
This is the second Manakin species we have encountered, and watching its display was truly amazing. While we didn’t manage to record a video of the performance this time, we will try to share its unique calls and movements with you in the near future.
This species was one of our main targets. Although we couldn’t get close, it was a joy to watch it swimming around the same area for quite a while. It is a wonderful bird, though I truly hope to see it perched in the future.
With four days remaining, our count is currently at 360 species photograph. Everyone is feeling the exhaustion from the constant rain and trekking. I hope we all stay strong and healthy to push through these final four days.
Our Costa Rica trip is almost at its end, and we have photographed 34 species of hummingbirds. This particular bird made everyone very excited. We had hoped it would perch for a clear shot, but it only allowed us to capture it in flight. Our current count stands at 375 species photographed, with about 10 more seen but not caught on camera. Today is our final opportunity to add new species to our list, and we are hoping for the best.
We photographed nine owl species during this trip, and this pair was one of the easiest encounters — we had them almost immediately upon reaching the location. A local guide led us straight to the tree; he is also a talented local artist with an impressive collection of wildlife photographs and artworks available for sale.
We are now on the way back, rushing to the forests of Malaysia for another assignment. There may not be many opportunities to share photos from this trip, but I will try my best to post a few special highlights.
This bird keeps its distance from us. While there are one or two spots where Toucans visit feeders, the presence of bananas and papayas in the frame often makes the photos look unnatural. Because of this, most of us struggled to get a good shot until the last few days when this bird finally came down low for us at the forest edge. It was such an excitement for everyone to see this beautiful creature. Most importantly, thank you to everyone for prioritizing the bird’s well-being over the photo. You guys are the best.
This is a bird that sits at the top of everyone’s bucket list, but upon our arrival in Costa Rica, the local guides informed us they weren’t active. We had nearly given up hope and put this strange-looking species out of our minds. However, as we neared the site, we received an update that they were active again. We decided to take a chance. To our absolute surprise, after only a short walk, we found them. The view improved from twenty meters overhead to an incredible eye-level encounter just two meters away. It was the amazing feeling of a lost opportunity turned into a found treasure.
The rain was closing in, so we rushed to see this bird immediately after spotting the Crested Owl. Luck was on our side as we found another pair roosting together. We managed to see our Potoo right after this, just before the rain started. What an incredible day for everyone.
This is a truly unique falcon. It has a very fixed routine when leaving its nest. We visited twice, and it followed the exact same method and path both times. It is absolutely amazing to see. This was my first time learning that falcons can nest in tree holes.
18. Great Tinamou, 大䳍, 大共鳥, Tinamus major, オオシギダチョウ
update 202604
While some birders prefer solo outings, birding in a group can be a major advantage. While we were all focused on photographing a Great Curassow in the dense forest, Xin Hui spotted a smaller bird that everyone else had overlooked. Once I finished with the Curassow, I quickly helped the group locate this elusive find. It was such a thrill to hear everyone shouting “Where? There!” in excitement. Although this species is rarely seen, it wasn’t shy at all, moving slowly even with nine of us standing just a few meters away. Having fun companions really makes the experience.
After a wonderful morning, we skipped our rest to keep the momentum going. Our local guide, Raul, took us for some easier birding along a flat grassland trail. We were lucky enough to witness a Tropical Kingbird chasing a Gray Hawk, and we also spotted this stunning Yellow-throated Toucan. It was truly a fantastic moment.
This bird was at the top of my wish list, especially because I wanted to see its famous moonwalk display. We were fortunate to witness it at eye level in a pristine environment. Although we were at an excellent feeding station with great opportunities to photograph owls, toucans, and other species, we chose to skip those to focus on this Manakin. While we were on the jungle trail, heavy rain forced us to stop and wait in silence. Fortunately, the rain ceased after about ten minutes, and we immediately heard the bird calling from the exact spot where we had taken shelter. Shortly after, Raul signaled us over, and there it was. We had an incredible session capturing both video and photos of this amazing creature.
We photographed seven species of trogons at eye level and at close range during our birding trip in Costa Rica. It was truly incredible how each individual bird approached us and stayed long enough for everyone to get a great look. This particular bird was one of three trogons we captured in a single morning, making for a fantastic second day of our trip.
It was a freezing morning at around –6°C. We went to Napa Lake mainly to revisit some good memories from years ago. After waiting for a beautiful sunrise, I was almost ready to return to the car when I suddenly heard a bird calling very close by. The bird stayed low to the ground, barely moving—likely due to the cold—with ice clearly visible around it.
I managed to capture some close shots, and that moment became the happiest highlight of this casual, relaxing trip to Yunnan.
One of my favorite bird families. I was lucky enough to encounter two different species in a single morning, just before heading into the jungle trail. We have now photographed 281 species, with 9 days left to go. There are still many target birds left to find.
After 10 months, I’m back in Africa — and this time, Kenya offers a completely different experience!
We were already thrilled by a few species from this bird family in South Africa, but here in Kenya, we’re seeing several up close, almost daily. And the best part? They are truly stunning birds!
This is one of those birds that always managed to avoid our group — even some of our best birding friends missed it. But after three trips to Africa, we finally had an amazing moment with this special species. It came close and walked slowly right in front of us!
3. Green Woodhoopoe, 绿林戴胜, 綠林戴勝, Phoeniculus purpureus, ミドリモリヤツガシラ
update 202512
It was raining and nearly the end of the day. Just as we were getting ready to head back, I spotted a group of birds with curved bills feeding in a tree right in front of us. I shouted, “Woodhoopoe!”
Everyone was thrilled to see this stunning species up close!
It’s always a joy to see this long-tailed, fast-moving bird. So far, we’ve seen it twice — once a white morph on day 1, and it was actually the second bird of the tour! It moves quickly, so not everyone may have gotten a perfect shot, but I’m sure everyone managed to capture at least a few photos of this stunning bird.
After so many days here — honestly lost count — every day has been filled with excitement from birds, wildlife, food, and endless photography. But this species has always been high on my wishlist.
It’s one of my top targets for this trip, and we were lucky to spot it a few times, not too high up, giving us great photo opportunities. Now just hoping we can still get the “Grey-headed” too!
One of our team members discovered this beautiful sunbird repeatedly returning to the same flower to feed. Even though there were many other birds to look for, we still spent some quality time at this spot. I also took the opportunity to capture some BIF shots of this lovely bird.
Besides discovering many new bird families, even the familiar ones here in Kenya feel extra special. Many are incredibly colorful, and some—like this one—have long, elegant tails. When the light hits just right, their feathers shine beautifully. Truly a stunning bird from Kenya.
As of day 12, we’ve photographed 366 bird species!
After seeing this common bird in South Africa a year ago, I’ve always hoped to see it again.
And now, on our second last day in Kenya, we finally got the chance! This male was actively displaying—trying hard to impress nearby females (though it didn’t seem to work even after an hour!).
Still, everyone was thrilled to capture some great flight shots and videos.
For those who came for specific targets, we’ve got all the key species too!
So far, we’ve photographed 414 bird species over the past 17 days (though this number might grow as not all photos have been checked yet!).
Every birder has their own focus—you can always tell what a birder is watching, even if something else exciting is happening nearby!
In this moment, both the bird and the lions were locked onto what interested them—a group of lions feeding, which is why the vulture flew in and waited nearby.
We were lucky to see it land and stay on the ground right in front of us.
After 18 unforgettable days in Kenya, I’m finally back in Malaysia. This birding trip truly opened my eyes—aside from Sri Lanka, Kenya has become one of my favorite places. Even without any feeding stations, birds were easy to find and photograph. On just Day 1, we photographed 98 species! By the end of the tour, the group had recorded 414 species—and I got about 10 more during solo walks in free time. I’ll definitely return, though 2026/2027 is already fully booked… and I’m too tired to think about 2028 now. Time to relax. More photos coming soon!
It’s not a lifer, but this time we had several close encounters with this seemingly common bird. The two distinct spots on its wings stood out beautifully, especially when the light hit just right. Moments like this remind us how stunning even familiar species can be.
We first saw and photographed this kingfisher at Lake Baringo, but it was either too far or perched on the resort roof—not ideal. Of course, everyone wants a great shot of a kingfisher!
Today, we rushed to Lake Naivasha hoping for a better chance, but under the hot sun, it was still either too far or too high.
Luckily, we spotted some nice birds at the car park before heading for a late lunch. After lunch, I suggested a casual walk by the lake—and to our surprise, the kingfisher was feeding right near where we stayed.
It kept diving for fish—around 10–15 dives, but only caught fish 3 times (maybe not the best fisherman!). Bingo !!! He got the fish !
We first saw and photographed this kingfisher at Lake Baringo, but it was either too far or perched on the resort roof—not ideal. Of course, everyone wants a great shot of a kingfisher!
Today, we rushed to Lake Naivasha hoping for a better chance, but under the hot sun, it was still either too far or too high.
Luckily, we spotted some nice birds at the car park before heading for a late lunch. After lunch, I suggested a casual walk by the lake—and to our surprise, the kingfisher was feeding right near where we stayed.
It kept diving for fish—around 10–15 dives, but only caught fish 3 times (maybe not the best fisherman!). Still, we got some lovely close shots to enjoy.
At the current pace of posting, there’s no way I can share all — or even half — of the photos from Kenya.
Kenya is truly one of those must-visit birding destinations. Absolutely incredible!
This was one of the bee-eaters that got everyone excited!
We only saw it once during the entire 18-day trip in Kenya, but what a moment — such a stunning bird with its bright red color. Truly unforgettable!
This was our very first partridge of the trip — it crossed the road right in front of us, and I was quick enough to get a few shots before it vanished.
Partridges in Africa seem much easier to spot than those in Asia — they’re generally not shy at all, unlike the ones we usually struggle to see back home.
We waited quite a while hoping the Silver Cat would come out from its “nest,” but eventually gave up and only got a few head shots. Just as the car started moving, I spotted a large raptor flying nearby and asked the driver to reverse. At first, we took some record shots through the window glass. Then, due to a small miscommunication with the driver, we ended up stopping just about 5 meters from the bird—resulting in this amazing close-up!
I really enjoy seeing vultures up close.
We were on a long drive, and unexpectedly spotted this “new bird” along the way. Thankfully, I kept my camera ready even while driving — managed to snap this shot just in time!
This was one of my main targets for our Kenya birding trip, and I’m so glad we got it—our very first owl of the trip! As expected, it was sleeping during the day. Of course, we all wished for a shot with its eyes open or in a better pose, but I’m happy we chose not to disturb it just for a photo. Big thanks to my amazing team—you all are awesome!
Such a beautiful bird. I always thought barbets mainly feed on fruit, but we observed this species many times feeding on termites, ants, and other small insects. That likely explains why we often see them foraging on the ground.
Such an adorable bird family. We were lucky to capture four different species in Kenya. I absolutely love the way these birds look, they are incredibly charming.
Day 1 of our Kenya birding tour, and this was the fifth bird we photograph. It was incredibly close, completely ignoring our presence while feeding calmly on flowers near the ground. So far on this trip, we have photographed three different long-tailed sunbird species, a very rewarding start to the tour.
This was the very first bird we sighted the moment we stepped off the plane. They were everywhere around the airport area. An incredibly beautiful bird, very common and surprisingly tame in Kenya. But honestly, who cares how common it is? Beauty is beauty.
This is a hornbill quite different from the hornbills we are familiar with. Unlike most species, this one usually feeds on the ground, which is why it is known as the Ground Hornbill. We were very fortunate to have it walk straight toward us, giving us an excellent close view and a great photo session.
This was our very first Sandgrouse of the Kenya tour, standing right in the middle of the road after sunset. The light was extremely low, but we kept pressing the shutter to capture this rare moment. Truly a beautiful bird.
Another bird that is very common in Samburu—we see it almost every day. Look a bit closer, and it actually looks a little scary too, especially with that bald head.
Not the best-looking bird, but definitely a weird and attractive subject to photograph, with its impressive high crest. Hard to miss thanks to its large size and the way it moves in groups. We watched it feeding on the ground and flying all around us.
This was our very first Barbet of the tour, and it couldn’t have been better. The bird perched unusually low and very close to us. I still remember my first Tinkerbird sighting—way up in the canopy, 20–30 meters high. This cute fellow, however, stayed low and fed calmly just a short distance away.
It is always a joy to encounter this “big-eyed” bird, but this sighting was especially memorable. The bird was staying around a small pond in an extremely hot and dry area, surrounded by thorny vegetation.
Image quality wasn’t ideal due to strong heat haze, but the experience of watching and photographing this cute and beautiful bird made it truly worthwhile.
A bird that’s hard to miss — large in size, moving in small groups, with a long, curved orange bill. Such a strange-looking bird, but I absolutely love seeing it.
Such a beautiful bird! Unfortunately, we only managed a single sighting during a rushed midday drive. The intense heat waves badly affected the photo quality, but we had no choice and still tried our best to capture the beauty of this bird.
We arrived too early to check in, so we squeezed in a quick birding session. What a great decision! This stunning bird came down low and close, giving us fantastic photo opportunities. Within the first hour alone, I think everyone easily shot more than 500 frames of this beauty!
Birding in Kenya is filled with unforgettable stories—I’ll share more once I’m back in Malaysia. For now, every day has been full of excitement. While we’re focused on finding new birds and getting better shots, we never miss out on amazing animals or stunning scenery either.
We’ve seen lions three times already! The most recent sighting was a group of seven, though we didn’t even stop (for a funny reason I’ll share later).
This one was incredible—at first, it looked like a typical sleeping lion, but suddenly it stood up, walked to drink, and came straight toward our vehicle—just 15 meters away!
Four more days to go, and we’ve photographed 390 bird species so far!
One of our group members wished to see this, and what a wish—it made everyone happy!
The world’s fastest animal slowly walked toward us, getting as close as 1–2 meters from me. Before that, it looked like it was about to hunt, pausing about 10 meters away as if ready to sprint… but then it stopped.
Still, what an incredible and beautiful sight!
One of the largest animals here—can look quite intimidating, especially when it approaches with alert sounds. But the young ones are just adorable! Always full of energy, running around their mother nonstop—such a lovely sight!
We came across this adorable little animal while walking between the restaurant and our rooms at Masai Mara. It’s an incredible jumper—really reminds me of a Tarsier!
This tiny, adorable bird gave us one of the most memorable moments of the tour. After a long and patient chase, it finally came close and low just for a brief moment — offering us the best view of the entire trip!
11. Ivory-backed Woodswallow, 白背燕鵙, 白背燕鵙, Artamus monachus, セレベスモリツバメ, Kekep Sulawesi
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11. Ivory-backed Woodswallow, 白背燕鵙, 白背燕鵙, Artamus monachus, セレベスモリツバメ, Kekep Sulawesi
update 202512
This is one of those birds that often gets overlooked, as it closely resembles the White-breasted Woodswallow. But this time, we were lucky to get a clear, eye-level view. A great Sulawesi endemic!
1. Hylocitrea, 林啸鹟, 橙脇嘯鶇, Hylocitrea bonensis, Hylocitrea bonensis, Kancilan Buah
The hylocitrea, also known as the yellow-flanked whistler or olive-flanked whistler, is a species of bird that is endemic to montane forests on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. It is monotypic within the genus Hylocitrea, and has traditionally been considered a member of the family Pachycephalidae, but recent genetic evidence suggests it should be placed in a monotypic subfamily of the family Bombycillidae, or even its own family, Hylocitreidae. A 2019 study found it to be a sister group to a clade containing the hypocolius (Hypocoliidae) and the extinct Hawaiian honeyeaters (Mohoidae), with the clade containing all three being a sister group to the silky-flycatchers (Ptiliogonatidae). The divergences forming these families occurred in the early Miocene, about 20-23 million years ago.
Our main target at Lore Lindu turned out to be not as tough as we expected. We managed to see it twice, and both sightings were not high up in the canopy. Unfortunately, the lighting wasn’t ideal, making the photos appear a bit dull—but still a great bird to observe!
It’s a common and not particularly beautiful bird, but each time it’s spotted, its size and leaf-like appearance still spark excitement.
这是一种常见且不算特别美丽的鸟，但每次看到它时，它的体型和如叶子般的外形仍然让人感到兴奋。
202504, Sungai Relau, Merapoh, Pahang
2. Garnet Pitta, 榴红八色鸫, 榴紅八色鶇, Erythropitta granatina, ムラサキヤイロチョウ,BURUNG-PACAT DELIMA BIASA
Update 202505
It was exciting to spot one moving on the ground without being disturbed by our presence—there were ten of us constantly shifting around for a better angle. We were lucky to encounter this Pitta without a long wait or much effort.
We spent our morning at the canopy, enjoying many great views of different birds. One was especially memorable—at eye level, feeding slowly instead of just flying past. A lovely Malkoha.
4. Malayan Banded-Pitta, 马来蓝尾八色鸫, 馬來藍尾八色鶇, Hydrornis irena，マラヤシマヤイロチョウ, BURUNG-PACAT BELANG MELAYU
update 202508
Always a pleasure catching up with one of the best birders/guides I know—Matthew and Hoi Ling! He made a short visit and requested a few lifers, so we left KL at 2:30am and headed to Merapoh. Despite the morning rain, we managed to tick off two lifers soon after arrival. Once the rain stopped, we got lucky again with this special lifer—it showed up twice (I missed the first photo opportunity)! Such a stunning Pitta, and a great moment getting both Garnet and this species away from the usual “stage”.
5. Thick-billed Green-Pigeon, 厚嘴绿鸠, 厚嘴綠鳩, Treron curvirostra, ハシブトアオバト, PUNAI ARA BIASA
update 202508
This is one of the most common green pigeons in the region—medium-sized and easily recognized by its thick, pale green eye-ring.
With a fruiting tree nearby, spotting them wasn’t too hard. Although we hoped for more species, we’re glad our guests got to tick off two of their targets here!
This is one of those birds we often hear or briefly see, but rarely get a good photo opportunity with. However, last month we were lucky to enjoy two amazing encounters—one in Peninsular Malaysia and another in Borneo.
As we were walking out of the forest after getting our main target, we heard its call nearby. Moments later, it appeared almost at eye level, just around 5 meters from us. What a moment!
Had an incredible time birding with a patient group from Canada. After a quiet start at our first stop, we headed deeper into the National Park. Suddenly, I caught a familiar call—I couldn’t help but shout, ‘Jayshrike!’ We got so lucky when it flew out and perched right in front of us. What a spectacular view, absolutely brilliant!
After hitting guest 6,500th species milestone, we decided to keep the momentum going in search of more lifers—aiming to get as close as possible to the 7,000 mark. Upon arriving at the tree top tower, I was incredibly lucky to spot two
Upon arriving at the tower, we were greeted by a beautiful, fast-moving bird circling the structure without pause. I quickly made my way to the top of the observation deck to get an eye-level shot and capture its grace.
Modern camera technology truly makes capturing such fast subjects feel almost effortless.
202602,
Taman Negara Sungai Relau, Pahang, Malaysia
10. Malayan Peacock-Pheasant, 凤冠孔雀雉, 鳳冠孔雀雉,Polyplectron malacense, マレーエボシコクジャク,KUANG-CERMIN MELAYU
update 202602
Last year, right after we spotted the Great Argus, everyone else was busy looking for other rare sightings. That’s when I noticed a smaller bird quietly approaching the feeding spot. It didn’t take long for this little visitor to start showing up regularly, eventually becoming the star attraction of Sg Relau National Park in Merapoh.
We just arrived at the viewing tower and the bird calls are everywhere! We heard three of them right next to us at the canopy level. We were hoping for a glimpse, and soon enough, both the male and female flew right up to eye level. They stayed close enough for us to get some great pictures.
202602,
Taman Negara Sungai Relau, Pahang, Malaysia
We just arrived at the viewing tower and the bird calls are everywhere! We heard three of them right next to us at the canopy level. We were hoping for a glimpse, and soon enough, both the male and female flew right up to eye level. They stayed close enough for us to get some great pictures.
202602, Taman Negara Sungai Relau, Pahang, Malaysia
12. Brown Fulvetta, 褐雀鹛, 褐雀鶥, Alcippe brunneicauda, ムジチメドリ, KEKICAU-SAMPAH MELAYU
update 202603
Even though this bird has a modest appearance, its song is absolutely beautiful. I’m so glad we could successfully find and check this target species off the list for our guest.
虽然这只鸟外表平凡，但它的歌声动听极了。很高兴能为客人顺利找到这个目标鸟种。
202602,
Taman Negara Sungai Relau, Pahang, Malaysia
Back in Merapoh for the second time this month! We hit our targets—the
Garnet Pitta, Great Argus, and Malayan Peacock-Pheasant—within just three hours on the first evening. During a relaxed birding session the next morning, we spotted this bird again in the same area. This time, it perched incredibly close to us for several rounds.
202603,
Taman Negara Sungai Relau, Pahang, Malaysia
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Another milestone for the trip! We heard them calling and saw them fly off several times, but never got a clear look until last morning. This one was incredibly vocal and perched right in front of us.
Most people are familiar with the nest parasitism – or brood parasitism – that is shown by our cuckoos, such as the Jacobin cuckoo and Diederik Cuckoos, where the birds lay their eggs in the nests of other bird species. These other species, the hosts, then feed and rear the young as if they were their own offspring. There are two other groups of birds in our area that are also brood-parasites, the family Viduidae (indigobirds, whydahs, and cuckoo-finch) and the family Indicatoridae (honeyguides). In this article we will focus on the Viduidae, a family that is well represented in the Hoedspruit area including three species each of indigobirds and whydahs.
The Viduidae comprises small, finch-like perching birds birds that are native to Africa. All species in this family are dimorphic, which means that there are significant differences between males and females. In the indigobirds, males have predominantly black or indigo colours in their plumage, while in whydahs breeding males have have long and sometimes ornate tails. In the cuckofinch, males are bright yellow with a black bill in the breeding season. Females of all species are brownish, do not have long tails, are much better camouflaged than the breeding males. Males lose their breeding plumage outside the breeding season, and become much more like females in appearance.
While busy recovering some accidentally deleted pictures, I wanted to share part of a full series capturing this beautiful long-tailed bird’s display and mating behavior. I really enjoy watching how this bird performs—it sometimes flies vertically, resembling a stick in motion.
CANON R1, CANON RF100500mm, 1.4x South Africa update 202501 Finally, I’m back from my South Africa tour! One of the most fascinating “common” birds we encountered was the Pin-tailed Whydah. While it’s not a rare species, its long tail and unique flying style captured our attention more than any other bird. This particular moment happened while we were in the car—yes, shooting handheld through the window! After taking hundreds of photos of the male flying, displaying, and mating, I decided to switch to video. Although I recorded in 4K 60p, I slowed down the second half to highlight the incredible beauty of its dance. 终于从南非之旅回来了！旅途中看到的最迷人的“常见”鸟类之一就是针尾维达雀。虽然它并不罕见，但它那长长的尾巴和独特的飞行姿态比其他任何鸟类都更吸引我们的目光。这段拍摄是在车里完成的——是的，手持相机透过车窗拍摄！拍了几百张照片，记录下雄鸟飞行、炫耀和交配的瞬间后，我决定拍摄视频。虽然我用4K 60帧录制，但在后半部分慢放，展现它舞蹈的惊人美感。
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A male bird with a very long tail, black-and-white plumage, and a striking red beak is hard to miss. While the local guide claimed it was common, we didn’t spot many during our first seven days. However, we were fortunate to see one performing a display for a female, which thrilled everyone. Capturing the moment from the car was quite challenging, but it was an unforgettable experience.
A small whydah with a reddish-orange bill and legs. The breeding male has buffy-orange underparts and neck, a dark cap, and 17-centimeter-long black tail feathers. The female and non-breeding male have streaky upperparts and pale buffy underparts. Breeding males hold territories in dry thorn scrub, but form flocks with other seedeaters after breeding. The species imitates the song of the Violet-eared Waxbill, which it parasitizes. Differs from the similar Pin-tailed Whydah by Shaft-tailed Whydah’s duller pink bill and streakier head in female and non-breeding male plumages, and black-and-buff plumage of the breeding male. [EBird]
What a beautiful little bird with its unique four racket-shaped tail feathers! Unfortunately, I couldn’t manage to capture any great shots of it this time. It’s definitely on my photography bucket list if I get the chance to visit Africa again. Despite the whole day of rain, we were lucky enough to witness some wonderful moments of it in flight.
