The Birds of Cameroon is an excellent reference book for observing and studying the region’s birdlife. With over 500 photographs, it provides a fascinating insight into the avifauna of Cameroon.
This comprehensive work is a landmark for Cameroonian ornithology. A quick reference guide to the most common species is also included.
The book also contains helpful information on the current gaps in our knowledge and the future research needed to further our knowledge of the country’s birds.
Grey Pratincole
The Grey Pratincole is a species of bird found throughout Africa. Its natural habitats include Cameroon, Angola, Benin, Chad, Congo, Gabon, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Togo, Burundi, and the Central African Republic.
The pratincole’s appearance varies with habitat, but its basic appearance is similar to that of most African birds.
To view Grey Pratincole birds, head to the forest about 50 km from Douala. Its habitats are very good for viewing other birds, including the Pied Hornbill and Piping Hornbill.
After 50 kilometers, you can also see the Blue-billed Malimbe and Splend Gloss. The forest also hosts various species of birds. It’s an excellent place to view Grey Pratincoles.
Other birds found in Cameroon include the Cameroon Olive Pigeon, the Mount Cameroon Francolin, the Mountain Saw-wing, and the Yellow-breasted Boubou.
The forest also boasts several endemic birds, including the Forest Swallow, the Yellow-breasted Boubou, and the Red-headed Woodhouse’s Antbird.
The Sanaga River supports unique avian diversity. Apart from the Grey Pratincole, the Sanaga River also hosts the African Skimmer and the African Openbill Stork.
Interestingly, there is no evidence that the park is an important stopover for palearctic migrants, despite its rich birdlife. Moreover, the peaks in bird numbers do not coincide with palearctic migration.
The best time to visit Cameroon is during the months of March and early April, before the rainy season. In these months, many birds are actively setting up their territories.
Even in the far north, seasonal migrants are still present. But if you are looking for a chance to spot these beautiful birds, avoid visiting Cameroon in May and August, because rain can seriously hamper your travels.
There are many bird species worth visiting in Cameroon. In addition to Grey Pratincole, you can also see Grey-necked Rockfowl and Red-headed Picathartes, two endemic species.
You will also find the Mountain Robin-Chat and the Green Longtail. The latter two species are rare and only found in Cameroon. And finally, the Grey Pratincole birds of Cameroon are a must-see when you visit the country.
Other notable species of the country include Lake Awing, Black-crowned Crane, Adamawa Turtle-dove, and Little Grebe. Among the many other species, you can also find the Great Egret and Standard-winged Nightjar.
There are also endemic Black Kite, African Spotcreeper, and White-cheeked Oliveback. The country’s diversity is also complemented by a wide range of other species, including the Chad Firefinch, African Scops-Wooled Hawk, and Grey-headed Picathartes.
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The Greater Painted-Snipe is a polyandrous bird. In order to produce eggs, the female painted-snipe courts a male and incubates the eggs, and then abandons him to court other males.
The nest is usually close together, and the male will defend his territory from other painted-snipes, passing on incubation and nesting duties to the female.
Rostratula painted-snipes are polyandrous, while the lesser painted-snipe is monogamous. The females in both species form bonds with several males during breeding season, and the males provide all of the care for the eggs.
Nests are shallow cups. Clutches range in size from two to four eggs. The incubation period is approximately 15 to 21 days.
The Greater Painted-Snipe inhabits swamps, marshes, and wetlands in the warm parts of the Old World. Females are brighter in color and feature a black band on their breast, while males are cryptically colored.
The male has big buffy wing spots and does courtship and rear young. The gender reversal is reminiscent of that in some buttonquail species, such as the Grey-Billed Cuckoo.
In addition to the Greater Painted Snipe, two other species are found in South-East Asia and Africa. In Australia, the South American Painted-Snipe, Nycticryphes semicollaris, is found in grasslands.
It has a range of over ten thousand square kilometers, and is considered endangered. Although the Greater Painted-Snipe is endangered in Cameroon, the lesser painted-snipe is not.
The male Greater Painted-Snipe (Rostratula benghalensis) was photographed at the Tarangire River in Tanzania by W. Ed Harper.
The male South American Painted-Snipe (Nycticryphes semicollaris) was photographed by John & Karen Shrader at El Palenque in Buenos Aires province, Argentina.
Although the Painted-Snipe is not included in a separate family, they are often found in books about shorebirds in the Old World. Kirwan (1996) is an excellent introduction to the family.
Similarly, a good book for the family is Baker, A.J., S.L. Pereira, and S.L. Baker. These publications provide good information about the Painted-Snipes.
Other noteworthy species in the region include the African Elephant, Red-cheeked Wattle-eye, and Rock Pratincole.
The region is also home to several other species of birds, including the Egyptian Plover and the Black-throated Parrot. The Upper Guinea Savanna is home to the Painted-snipe bird, the Buff-breasted Bushshrike, and the Rufous-sided Broadbill.
Other notable species of birds include the Rufous-sided Broadbill, Black-crowned Eagle, and the Congo Serpent-eagle.
While in the region, you can also find the African Pygmy Goose, Forbes’s Plover, and the Rock Pratincole. If you’re lucky, you may even get to see the Greater Painted-snipe in the wild.
John is passionate about discovering the beautiful birds of the globe. He is researching & sharing the best birds of all countries that he can find to share his passion & hobby with the world.
