[ad_1]
23 January 2024: Day 5, Zambezi Nationwide Park — Street Scholar Southern Africa Birding Safari. Click on right here to see (typically) the place I’m right this moment.
In the present day we’re on a birding drive via Zambezi Nationwide Park the place we’re certain to listen to the distinctive name of a really plain chook.
The grey go-away chook (Crinifer concolor) is known as for the whiny sound he makes that, in English, feels like “go awaaaaay.” All grey in colour, he has a crest like a northern cardinal however he’s greater than twice its size and 10 occasions its weight. Not like the cardinal’s lovely music the go-away chook feels like he’s whining.
Actually he’s making an alarm name and all of the birds and mammals comprehend it, fleeing or freezing in place whereas he warns them.
He whines alone …
… or with a crowd.
Go-away birds don’t fly properly however they will clamber.
Although their flight is moderately sluggish and laboured, they will cowl lengthy distances. As soon as within the open tree tops nonetheless, they will show the agility which is related to the Musophagidae [Turacos], as they run alongside tree limbs and leap from department to department. They will type teams and events numbering even 20 to 30 that transfer about in the hunt for fruit and bugs close to the tree tops.
Sooner or later I’m certain they’ll inform us to “Go Awaaaay!”
[ad_2]