Learn more about the diverse species of Lesotho’s birds. Listed below are Drakensberg rockjumper and siskin. Lesotho lark and kingfisher also make appearances. Learn about the birds’ natural habitat, breeding habits, migration patterns, and more. Thousands of pages on birds, including articles about birdwatching and feeding, provide more information on the region’s wildlife.
Drakensberg siskin
The Drakensberg siskin is a small flighty bird that inhabits grassy mountainsides and scrub valleys at high altitudes. Its lemon-colored rump is a recognizable trait in flight. Its tail has white outer feathers, which makes it easier to identify than the Cape siskin, which lacks this distinguishing feature. It is generally found in flocks of up to 30 birds, and breeds from late February to March.
Drakensberg siskin birds of a Lesotho park are easy to spot at close range. They are accompanied by the Mountain Pipit, Orange-breasted Rockjumper, and Banded Martin. Low-density species include the Thick-billed Lark, Laughing Dove, and Mountain Pipit. Lesotho is a popular destination for birders who want to see some of the region’s unique species.
The Fairest Cape is the richest region of endemics in Africa, and includes the Ground Woodpecker and Gurney’s Sugarbird. The Orange-breasted Sunbird is a rare and beautiful bird, but it is also limited to Namibia. There is a Lesotho equivalent of this bird called the Gurney’s Sugarbird, which is also a Drakensberg resident.
The Drakensberg Wildlife Sanctuary is best visited between August and November, during the southern spring. The latter season is also the most important for the birds, with many mammals congregating around the few remaining water bodies. The dry season runs from June to October, while the peak wet season is from November to March. The summer months of South Africa are January and February. Late June-early July is the time for the Sardine Run.
The Hluhluwe-Umfolozi GR Giraffe is an easy-to-recognize sighting in the Kruger National Park. Other wildlife to look out for in the park includes the Grey Stork, Lion, and Leopard. Visiting these areas also increases your chances of seeing the rarer African Wild Dog and the Greater Kudu.
Drakensberg rockjumper
The Drakensberg rockjumper is an endemic bird of the mountains of Lesotho and southern Africa. It lives at high altitudes of more than 1.800 meters, where it feeds mainly on grasshoppers, moths and larvae. Its breeding range is small, but it is considered to have a stable population. Its breeding season is from August to February.
The Drakensberg Rockjumper is a striking bird that lives in rocky mountain habitats. Its striking yellow head and tail contrast with its dark gray body. The female is duller with buff underside and forages for insects in tussocks. The Cape Rockjumper, meanwhile, prefers grasslands and fynbos.
Other endemic birds in Lesotho include the Grey-winged Francolin, the White-quilled Korhaan, the Taita Falcon, the Cape Vulture and the Blue and Wattled Cranes. Other birds in the region include the African Pied Starling and the Drakensberg Rockjumper. Other birds found in the area include the Chorister Robin-chat, Sentinel Rock-thrush, Cape White-eye, Fiscal Flycatcher, and a variety of sparrows.
The wildlife in the area is diverse, including the Big 5 (Leopard, African Elephant, Leopard, & Cheetah), the White Rhinoceros, the Blue and Black Wildebeests, the African Grey-headed Goose, the Grey-headed Duck, the Common Eland, and the Sloggett’s Vlei Rat. Birds of Lesotho are abundant and a trip to the park is not complete without a sighting of them.
Lesotho larks
Species of larks are found throughout Southern Africa. Lesotho is home to a variety of these species. The largest is the long-billed lark, which is found on grassland and rocky hillslopes. Among its five family members, the long-billed lark has the smallest bill and is the least streaked. It can be easily identified by its far-reaching whistle.
In addition to Lesotho larks, other notable birds in the region include the Black Harrier, the Blue Bustard, the White-quilled Bustard, the African Pied Starling, and the Karoo Long-billed Lark. In addition to these larks, the area is home to several other species of raptors, including the Orange-breasted Sunbird and the Cape Parrot.
The red-capped lark is a small passerine bird that breeds in the highlands of eastern Africa. Its range extends south to the Cape in South Africa and Angola. Lesotho larks are endangered because they do not fledge on the ground, so protecting them is essential. The song of this beautiful bird is a call to protect the country’s fragile environment.
The most commonly seen species of lark in Lesotho are the Red-winged Starling (Onychognathus morio), and the Thick-billed Lark (Ardea rufa). Other species of birds that live in the country include the Laughing Dove, Mountain Chat, and Cape Sparrow. The Red-winged Starling, meanwhile, can be seen in Giants Castle NR and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, where the endangered Grey-headed Sparrow and African Bat-eagle are found.
Almost all of Lesotho’s wildlife is mountainous, but the country’s wildlife is primarily found in the Drakensberg region, where the two countries meet. Lesotho is home to 60 different species of snakes, the puff adder is responsible for around 60 percent of all life-threatening snake bites in the continent, so it’s important to learn as much as possible about the species found in the region.
Lesotho kingfisher
A kingfisher’s breeding behavior is highly variable, but it is known to occur in the Malibamatso River, Lesotho. In June 1991, four nests were discovered on a cliff over the Malibamatso River. These were about 3.5 km upstream from the dam, which is full at the time of this study. During September 1996 and February 1998, nine birds were present at the colony, with one nesting with an adult.
The national crocodile, which appears on the national coat of arms, is absent from Lesotho. While the kingfisher may be a rare bird, the crocodile is an important symbol of Lesotho. Although this species is not common in the Lesotho highlands, it is still present on the national coat of arms. Lesotho is a landlocked nation that is bordered by South Africa.
Despite its scarcity, the Lesotho kingfisher has been a staple of the country’s diet for many years. However, recent human activity has posed a threat to the birds of Lesotho, including a proposed hydroelectric dam on the Orange River. The project is part of an ambitious dam-building plan to meet the needs of the Lesotho highlands, which are home to the largest number of birds in southern Africa.
Despite the lack of reliable information on the Lesotho kingfisher’s breeding history, the birds have also been spotted in other parts of the country. In November 1991, a single adult accompanied by seven young were observed on the upper Senqunyane River. The lower Senqunyane River was covered, so it was not likely that the birds were breeding in Lesotho.
Lesotho kingbird
The Lesotho kingbird is one of the smallest passerine birds in the world. It is smaller than Maryland but is a mountainous country in South Africa. It is the only country in the world with a highest point over one thousand meters. It is so isolated that it is only accessible by foot or by horse. The land is so steep and mountainous that snow can fall at any time of the year. The Drakensberg Rockjumper is southern Africa’s most sought-after specialty bird.
- Anjouan Sunbird and Other Birds of Comoros - July 23, 2022
- Check List For Birds of Iraq - June 29, 2022
- Birds of the Channel Islands: The Beauty of Nature - June 29, 2022