Regular moult-breeding overlap in the Pale-winged Starling Onychognathus nabouroup
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/449518 , vital:74827 , https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.2989/00306525.2012.737149
- Description: In an earlier publication, with a sample consisting entirely of dated museum specimens, I concluded that, at the population level, moult-breeding overlap occurred in the Pale-winged Starling Onychognathus nabouroup, and in two other southern African Sturnidae, for which both museum skins and ringing records were available (Craig 1983). Subsequently, additional Pale-winged Starling specimens were examined in a reassessment of the subspecies that had been described, but no further analysis of the moult was undertaken (Craig 1988a). As part of a current behavioural study of this species, 58 Pale-winged Starlings were captured and colour-ringed at Augrabies Falls National Park during October 2011, and moult data were recorded for each bird following the standard scoring system for primary wing-feathers (de Beer et al. 2001). This prompted a re-examination of my earlier data, including the application of the Underhill-Zucchini model (Underhill and Zucchini 1988) to the available material.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/449518 , vital:74827 , https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.2989/00306525.2012.737149
- Description: In an earlier publication, with a sample consisting entirely of dated museum specimens, I concluded that, at the population level, moult-breeding overlap occurred in the Pale-winged Starling Onychognathus nabouroup, and in two other southern African Sturnidae, for which both museum skins and ringing records were available (Craig 1983). Subsequently, additional Pale-winged Starling specimens were examined in a reassessment of the subspecies that had been described, but no further analysis of the moult was undertaken (Craig 1988a). As part of a current behavioural study of this species, 58 Pale-winged Starlings were captured and colour-ringed at Augrabies Falls National Park during October 2011, and moult data were recorded for each bird following the standard scoring system for primary wing-feathers (de Beer et al. 2001). This prompted a re-examination of my earlier data, including the application of the Underhill-Zucchini model (Underhill and Zucchini 1988) to the available material.
- Full Text:
Seasonal distribution, breeding season and wing moult in the Splendid Glossy Starling Lamprotornis splendidus
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/449535 , vital:74828 , https://doi.org/10.2989/00306525.2012.655429
- Description: Seasonal migration by Splendid Glossy Starlings has been confirmed only for Kenya and Zambia. Populations in almost all other countries have been categorised as ‘resident’ by some observers, but ‘nomadic’ is a more accurate description of their status. The breeding season is accurately known for few localities. Estimates for the duration of wing moult ranged from 70–130 d based on small samples. Regional divergences in the timing of wing moult remain open to three possible interpretations: (1) differences between years in the timing of wing moult; (2) differences between sex and/or age classes; and (3) population movements, so that birds from different regions may successively occupy the same areas. The available data are inadequate to resolve these questions.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/449535 , vital:74828 , https://doi.org/10.2989/00306525.2012.655429
- Description: Seasonal migration by Splendid Glossy Starlings has been confirmed only for Kenya and Zambia. Populations in almost all other countries have been categorised as ‘resident’ by some observers, but ‘nomadic’ is a more accurate description of their status. The breeding season is accurately known for few localities. Estimates for the duration of wing moult ranged from 70–130 d based on small samples. Regional divergences in the timing of wing moult remain open to three possible interpretations: (1) differences between years in the timing of wing moult; (2) differences between sex and/or age classes; and (3) population movements, so that birds from different regions may successively occupy the same areas. The available data are inadequate to resolve these questions.
- Full Text:
Wing moult and sexual dimorphism in the Lesser Honeyguide Indicator minor in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Craig, Adrian J F K, Bonnevie, Bo T, Hulley, Patrick E
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K , Bonnevie, Bo T , Hulley, Patrick E
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/449593 , vital:74832 , https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.2989/00306525.2012.662918
- Description: Based on ringing data from the Western Cape, Underhill et al.(1995) demonstrated that there was a bimodal distribution of wing-length measurements in the Lesser Honeyguide Indicator minor, and they described the timing of wing-moult in this region. Hanmer (1997) reported similar results for Lesser Honeyguides from Mozambique and Malawi. This species remains poorly studied, and we have examined size dimorphism and wing moult for a sample of birds from the Eastern Cape region: 44 museum specimens from the Albany Museum (Grahamstown), East London Museum and the Ditsong Museum (formerly Transvaal Museum, Pretoria), together with ringing data for 94 birds. Wing-length of both museum specimens and ringed birds was measured in the standard manner (maximum chord); weight to the nearest 0.5 g was recorded with a Pesola spring balance. Each bird was checked for wing moult, which was recorded as 0 for an old feather and 5 for a fully grown new feather (de Beer et al. 2001). These moult scores were converted to percentage feather mass grown using a primary feather mass index, Passer9 (Bonnevie 2010a), for analysis using the model of Underhill and Zucchini (1988), as implemented in R (Erni et al. in press), with the data subsampled to prevent non-moulting birds from biasing the estimates (Bonnevie 2010b).
- Full Text:
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K , Bonnevie, Bo T , Hulley, Patrick E
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/449593 , vital:74832 , https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.2989/00306525.2012.662918
- Description: Based on ringing data from the Western Cape, Underhill et al.(1995) demonstrated that there was a bimodal distribution of wing-length measurements in the Lesser Honeyguide Indicator minor, and they described the timing of wing-moult in this region. Hanmer (1997) reported similar results for Lesser Honeyguides from Mozambique and Malawi. This species remains poorly studied, and we have examined size dimorphism and wing moult for a sample of birds from the Eastern Cape region: 44 museum specimens from the Albany Museum (Grahamstown), East London Museum and the Ditsong Museum (formerly Transvaal Museum, Pretoria), together with ringing data for 94 birds. Wing-length of both museum specimens and ringed birds was measured in the standard manner (maximum chord); weight to the nearest 0.5 g was recorded with a Pesola spring balance. Each bird was checked for wing moult, which was recorded as 0 for an old feather and 5 for a fully grown new feather (de Beer et al. 2001). These moult scores were converted to percentage feather mass grown using a primary feather mass index, Passer9 (Bonnevie 2010a), for analysis using the model of Underhill and Zucchini (1988), as implemented in R (Erni et al. in press), with the data subsampled to prevent non-moulting birds from biasing the estimates (Bonnevie 2010b).
- Full Text:
Range extension of the Lufira Masked Weaver Ploceus ruweti, endemic to Katanga province, Democratic Republic of Congo
- Craig, Adrian J F K, Hasson, Michel, Jordaens, Kurt, Breman, Floris C, Louette, Michel
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K , Hasson, Michel , Jordaens, Kurt , Breman, Floris C , Louette, Michel
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/449489 , vital:74825 , https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.2989/00306525.2010.523018
- Description: For many years the status of Ploceus ruweti Louette and Benson 1982, described from the unique male type specimen obtained in 1960 at Lake Lufira (an artificial impoundment on the Lufira River), remained obscure. However, in 2009 MH revisited the type locality, photographed the birds breeding there (including females and young birds), and rec-orded their song; nests and eggs were described for the first time, and a second male specimen was obtained from local fishermen (Louette and Hasson 2009; collection number RMCA A9-18-A-1). This species had been treated in the authoritative series The Birds of Africa as the Lake Lufira Weaver (Oschadleus 2004), and appears under this name in current checklists and fieldguides (eg Sinclair and Ryan 2003). Since the lake is now known as Lake Tshangalele and, based on our data from a recent field trip to the region, the bird is not restricted to the lake, an appropriate common name for P. ruweti is ‘Lufira Masked Weaver’as recommended by Gill and Wright (2006), and as used in a forthcoming volume of the other authoritative series Handbook of the Birds of the World (Craig 2010).
- Full Text:
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K , Hasson, Michel , Jordaens, Kurt , Breman, Floris C , Louette, Michel
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/449489 , vital:74825 , https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.2989/00306525.2010.523018
- Description: For many years the status of Ploceus ruweti Louette and Benson 1982, described from the unique male type specimen obtained in 1960 at Lake Lufira (an artificial impoundment on the Lufira River), remained obscure. However, in 2009 MH revisited the type locality, photographed the birds breeding there (including females and young birds), and rec-orded their song; nests and eggs were described for the first time, and a second male specimen was obtained from local fishermen (Louette and Hasson 2009; collection number RMCA A9-18-A-1). This species had been treated in the authoritative series The Birds of Africa as the Lake Lufira Weaver (Oschadleus 2004), and appears under this name in current checklists and fieldguides (eg Sinclair and Ryan 2003). Since the lake is now known as Lake Tshangalele and, based on our data from a recent field trip to the region, the bird is not restricted to the lake, an appropriate common name for P. ruweti is ‘Lufira Masked Weaver’as recommended by Gill and Wright (2006), and as used in a forthcoming volume of the other authoritative series Handbook of the Birds of the World (Craig 2010).
- Full Text:
The avifauna of Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Eastern Cape, South Africa: checklist
- Craig, Adrian J F K, Bissett, Charlene, Galpin, Mark D, Olver, Bryan, Hulley, Patrick E
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K , Bissett, Charlene , Galpin, Mark D , Olver, Bryan , Hulley, Patrick E
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/465527 , vital:76617 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC132276
- Description: A protected area since 1999, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve incorporates several former farms, for which past records of bird occurrences are available. No bird species appear to have been lost from the area. Between 2001 and 2005, a group of observers conducted systematic bird surveys in most months, which allowed the status (resident, migrant or irregular visitor) of most bird species to be determined. At least three species have established breeding populations in the reserve over the past 10 years. Of 302 species reliably recorded to date, 182 (60.3%) appear to be resident, 46 (15.2%) are seasonal migrants and 74 (24.5%) are vagrant visitors.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K , Bissett, Charlene , Galpin, Mark D , Olver, Bryan , Hulley, Patrick E
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/465527 , vital:76617 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC132276
- Description: A protected area since 1999, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve incorporates several former farms, for which past records of bird occurrences are available. No bird species appear to have been lost from the area. Between 2001 and 2005, a group of observers conducted systematic bird surveys in most months, which allowed the status (resident, migrant or irregular visitor) of most bird species to be determined. At least three species have established breeding populations in the reserve over the past 10 years. Of 302 species reliably recorded to date, 182 (60.3%) appear to be resident, 46 (15.2%) are seasonal migrants and 74 (24.5%) are vagrant visitors.
- Full Text:
Family ploceidae (weavers)
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/465592 , vital:76623 , ISBN 978-84-96553-68-2
- Description: Volume 15 of the Handbook of the Birds of the World covers 606 species across eight families, including weavers, waxbills, vireos, finches, and New World warblers. The volume features a Foreword on bird conservation by BirdLife International experts and contains 60 color plates, 495 photographs, 614 distribution maps, and over 6,000 bibliographical references.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/465592 , vital:76623 , ISBN 978-84-96553-68-2
- Description: Volume 15 of the Handbook of the Birds of the World covers 606 species across eight families, including weavers, waxbills, vireos, finches, and New World warblers. The volume features a Foreword on bird conservation by BirdLife International experts and contains 60 color plates, 495 photographs, 614 distribution maps, and over 6,000 bibliographical references.
- Full Text:
Regional patterns in moult and sexual dimorphism of adult Southern Red Bishops Euplectes orix in southern Africa
- Craig, Adrian J F K, Bonnevie, Bo T, Oschadleus, Hans-Dieter
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K , Bonnevie, Bo T , Oschadleus, Hans-Dieter
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/449503 , vital:74826 , https://doi.org/10.2989/00306525.2010.488357
- Description: Using the SAFRING database and the Underhill-Zucchini model of primary moult, we analysed the timing of wing moult in Southern Red Bishops Euplectes orix in relation to sex and geographical region. Birds from the winter rainfall region in the south-western sector of the Western Cape start the annual moult more than two months before any other population, but there were no significant differences in starting date within the summer rainfall region. There were striking differences in the estimates of moult duration (62–114 d), which did not follow a consistent pattern in relation to sex or geography; annual variation within a region may be an additional factor. Throughout southern Africa, both sexes showed a trend for longer-winged birds to take more time to complete their moult. We suggest that sex, geographical area and possible annual environmental variations may all influence the timing of moult in local populations. In this sexually dimorphic species, males are consistently longer-winged and heavier than females.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K , Bonnevie, Bo T , Oschadleus, Hans-Dieter
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/449503 , vital:74826 , https://doi.org/10.2989/00306525.2010.488357
- Description: Using the SAFRING database and the Underhill-Zucchini model of primary moult, we analysed the timing of wing moult in Southern Red Bishops Euplectes orix in relation to sex and geographical region. Birds from the winter rainfall region in the south-western sector of the Western Cape start the annual moult more than two months before any other population, but there were no significant differences in starting date within the summer rainfall region. There were striking differences in the estimates of moult duration (62–114 d), which did not follow a consistent pattern in relation to sex or geography; annual variation within a region may be an additional factor. Throughout southern Africa, both sexes showed a trend for longer-winged birds to take more time to complete their moult. We suggest that sex, geographical area and possible annual environmental variations may all influence the timing of moult in local populations. In this sexually dimorphic species, males are consistently longer-winged and heavier than females.
- Full Text:
The status of the southern ground-hornbill in the Grahamstown region, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Hulley, Patrick E, Craig, Adrian J F K
- Authors: Hulley, Patrick E , Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/447909 , vital:74683 , https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.2989/OSTRICH.2007.78.1.13.57
- Description: The Eastern Cape has been the southernmost limit of distribution for the Southern Ground-Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri throughout the period for which there are written records (Vernon 1986, Vernon and Herremans 1997). No records are known west of Port Elizabeth and the only ones from this 1 map square (33 S 27 E) date from the nineteenth century. Vernon (1986) noted that nest and roost sites for groundhornbills were in large trees or on cliffs, from which the birds commuted to forage in open country. The forest/thicket and grassland mosaic in the Eastern Cape is apparently ancient (Skead 1987), but the grassland sector has been greatly modified by agriculture and human settlement. Since the assessment of the Southern Ground-Hornbill’s status as ‘vulnerable’in the latest Red Data Book (Barnes 2000), it has been suggested that populations in South Africa have declined to a point where its true status is ‘endangered’but this revision was not accepted by IUCN (AC Kemp, pers. comm.). The recent initiative by the Mabula-based NGO, the Ground-hornbill Research and Conservation Project, to reintroduce birds to the Eastern Cape, prompted us to examine records of sightings in this region. The main focus is the Grahamstown map square 33 S 26 E, in which the release site of the first birds—Shamwari Private Game Reserve—is situated. Our source is the published records in Diaz Diary, the newsletter of the Diaz Cross Bird Club, which has branches in Grahamstown and Kenton-on-Sea, covering the period 1978–2004 inclusive.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Hulley, Patrick E , Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/447909 , vital:74683 , https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.2989/OSTRICH.2007.78.1.13.57
- Description: The Eastern Cape has been the southernmost limit of distribution for the Southern Ground-Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri throughout the period for which there are written records (Vernon 1986, Vernon and Herremans 1997). No records are known west of Port Elizabeth and the only ones from this 1 map square (33 S 27 E) date from the nineteenth century. Vernon (1986) noted that nest and roost sites for groundhornbills were in large trees or on cliffs, from which the birds commuted to forage in open country. The forest/thicket and grassland mosaic in the Eastern Cape is apparently ancient (Skead 1987), but the grassland sector has been greatly modified by agriculture and human settlement. Since the assessment of the Southern Ground-Hornbill’s status as ‘vulnerable’in the latest Red Data Book (Barnes 2000), it has been suggested that populations in South Africa have declined to a point where its true status is ‘endangered’but this revision was not accepted by IUCN (AC Kemp, pers. comm.). The recent initiative by the Mabula-based NGO, the Ground-hornbill Research and Conservation Project, to reintroduce birds to the Eastern Cape, prompted us to examine records of sightings in this region. The main focus is the Grahamstown map square 33 S 26 E, in which the release site of the first birds—Shamwari Private Game Reserve—is situated. Our source is the published records in Diaz Diary, the newsletter of the Diaz Cross Bird Club, which has branches in Grahamstown and Kenton-on-Sea, covering the period 1978–2004 inclusive.
- Full Text:
A century of Zoology and Entomology at Rhodes University, 1905 to 2005
- Hodgson, Alan N, Craig, Adrian J F K
- Authors: Hodgson, Alan N , Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 2005
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6922 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011905
- Description: The history of the Department of Zoology & Entomology at Rhodes University is traced from its origin with a single staff member, through the era of permanent heads of department to the present day staff. Significant achievements and developments in teaching and research are highlighted, and some anecdotal material is included.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Hodgson, Alan N , Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 2005
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6922 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011905
- Description: The history of the Department of Zoology & Entomology at Rhodes University is traced from its origin with a single staff member, through the era of permanent heads of department to the present day staff. Significant achievements and developments in teaching and research are highlighted, and some anecdotal material is included.
- Full Text:
A re-assessment of the avifauna of the Mountain Zebra National Park
- Craig, Adrian J F K, Hulley, Patrick E, Parker, Daniel M
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K , Hulley, Patrick E , Parker, Daniel M
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/465267 , vital:76588 , 10.4102/koedoe.v63i1.1683
- Description: Based on all published records, together with the original data for the southern African bird atlas, the current Birds in Reserves Project and our records on field trips, 257 bird species have been reliably recorded from MZNP. We have assessed the current status of all species, in relation to the recent expansion of the park and other changes which may be a consequence of management practices. No birds of national conservation concern are breeding residents in the park, and some species are periodic or irregular visitors. Nevertheless, the park is important for the conservation of representatives of the Karoo avifauna, and the diversity of birdlife present should be highlighted to attract visitors with a special interest in birding.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K , Hulley, Patrick E , Parker, Daniel M
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/465267 , vital:76588 , 10.4102/koedoe.v63i1.1683
- Description: Based on all published records, together with the original data for the southern African bird atlas, the current Birds in Reserves Project and our records on field trips, 257 bird species have been reliably recorded from MZNP. We have assessed the current status of all species, in relation to the recent expansion of the park and other changes which may be a consequence of management practices. No birds of national conservation concern are breeding residents in the park, and some species are periodic or irregular visitors. Nevertheless, the park is important for the conservation of representatives of the Karoo avifauna, and the diversity of birdlife present should be highlighted to attract visitors with a special interest in birding.
- Full Text:
Rare Weavers (Aves: Ploceidae): Are Some Ploceus Species Hybrids?
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/465602 , vital:76624 , ISBN 978-0-387-24320-7 , https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-24320-8_27
- Description: Two central African forest weavers, Ploceus aureonucha and P. flavipes, are known only from below 10 specimens each since 1920, and below 3 sightings each in the past 40 years. A re-examination of the available data raised the possibility that these taxa might be hybrids. For P. flavipes, the postulated parental species are P. nigerrimus X P. albinucha. For P. aureonucha, the parental species could be P. nigerrimus X P. tricolor, but it seems more likely that P. aureonucha represents an unrecognised plumage stage of P. tricolor. Resolution of the status of these two species is relevant to assessments of biodiversity, and conservation priorities, in the Ituri region.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/465602 , vital:76624 , ISBN 978-0-387-24320-7 , https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-24320-8_27
- Description: Two central African forest weavers, Ploceus aureonucha and P. flavipes, are known only from below 10 specimens each since 1920, and below 3 sightings each in the past 40 years. A re-examination of the available data raised the possibility that these taxa might be hybrids. For P. flavipes, the postulated parental species are P. nigerrimus X P. albinucha. For P. aureonucha, the parental species could be P. nigerrimus X P. tricolor, but it seems more likely that P. aureonucha represents an unrecognised plumage stage of P. tricolor. Resolution of the status of these two species is relevant to assessments of biodiversity, and conservation priorities, in the Ituri region.
- Full Text:
Active anting in captive Cape White-eyes Zosterops pallidus
- Lunt, Nicky, Hulley, Patrick E, Craig, Adrian J F K
- Authors: Lunt, Nicky , Hulley, Patrick E , Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 2004
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/465278 , vital:76589 , https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1474-919X.2004.00264.x
- Description: The article focuses on active anting in captive Cape white-eyes Zosterops pallidus. In this study, observation of captive birds at close quarters enables to test some of the stimuli that could elicit this behavior. When anting, birds either brush ants through their plumage or allow ants to crawl over them. Anting has been recorded in more than 160 species of passerine birds worldwide. Nevertheless, it is rarely observed in the wild, perhaps because the actions resemble preening movements or dust-bathing. Experiments were designed to clarify whether white-eyes ant before eating ants, and whether anting is correlated with moult in this species.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Lunt, Nicky , Hulley, Patrick E , Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 2004
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/465278 , vital:76589 , https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1474-919X.2004.00264.x
- Description: The article focuses on active anting in captive Cape white-eyes Zosterops pallidus. In this study, observation of captive birds at close quarters enables to test some of the stimuli that could elicit this behavior. When anting, birds either brush ants through their plumage or allow ants to crawl over them. Anting has been recorded in more than 160 species of passerine birds worldwide. Nevertheless, it is rarely observed in the wild, perhaps because the actions resemble preening movements or dust-bathing. Experiments were designed to clarify whether white-eyes ant before eating ants, and whether anting is correlated with moult in this species.
- Full Text:
Additional morphological characteristics of Olive Thrushes and Karoo Thrushes
- Bonnevie, Bo T, Craig, Adrian J F K, Hulley, Patrick E
- Authors: Bonnevie, Bo T , Craig, Adrian J F K , Hulley, Patrick E
- Date: 2004
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/447712 , vital:74669 , https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.2989/00306520409485415
- Description: A southern race of the Olive Thrush, Turdus olivaceus smithi Bonaparte, has recently been proposed as a full species, the Karoo Thrush Turdus smithi (Bowie et al. 2003). Some of the published information on the Olive Thrush Turdus olivaceus olivaceus thus pertains to the Karoo Thrush (eg Kopij 2000), whereas other information deals specifically with the Olive Thrush (eg Winterbottom 1966, Bonnevie et al. 2003). We have ringed, recaptured and recovered both Olive and Karoo Thrushes in the Eastern Cape since 1986, and the two taxa are markedly different in this region. We describe some differences in appearance of the two populations from these data, and compare mass and wing length of living birds, as well as culmen and tarsus lengths of museum specimens from the East London Museum, South Africa. The collection sites of the museum specimens were mapped using ArcView 3.1 (ESRI 1996) together with the ringing sites (Figure 1). Areas of potential sympatry are Oudtshoorn (33 25’S, 22 11’E) and Patensie (33 45’S, 24 48’E).
- Full Text:
- Authors: Bonnevie, Bo T , Craig, Adrian J F K , Hulley, Patrick E
- Date: 2004
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/447712 , vital:74669 , https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.2989/00306520409485415
- Description: A southern race of the Olive Thrush, Turdus olivaceus smithi Bonaparte, has recently been proposed as a full species, the Karoo Thrush Turdus smithi (Bowie et al. 2003). Some of the published information on the Olive Thrush Turdus olivaceus olivaceus thus pertains to the Karoo Thrush (eg Kopij 2000), whereas other information deals specifically with the Olive Thrush (eg Winterbottom 1966, Bonnevie et al. 2003). We have ringed, recaptured and recovered both Olive and Karoo Thrushes in the Eastern Cape since 1986, and the two taxa are markedly different in this region. We describe some differences in appearance of the two populations from these data, and compare mass and wing length of living birds, as well as culmen and tarsus lengths of museum specimens from the East London Museum, South Africa. The collection sites of the museum specimens were mapped using ArcView 3.1 (ESRI 1996) together with the ringing sites (Figure 1). Areas of potential sympatry are Oudtshoorn (33 25’S, 22 11’E) and Patensie (33 45’S, 24 48’E).
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Iris colour in passerine birds: why be bright-eyed?
- Craig, Adrian J F K, Hulley, Patrick E
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K , Hulley, Patrick E
- Date: 2004
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6902 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011756
- Description: An initial survey of iris coloration in passerine birds (Aves: Passeriformes) showed that a brightly pigmented iris is much more common in southern African and Australian birds than in those from Europe, temperate North America, and Venezuela. However, the only statistical correlation reflected the distribution of particular bird families in these regions. Ten family-level groups considered to represent monophyletic taxa were then selected for a more detailed analysis, comparing iris coloration with distribution, status, taxonomy, plumage patterns, and some biological and behavioural characters for 1143 species. No pattern associating iris colour with particular traits was common to all families, but within families there were statistically significant associations with both plumage and biology. Our expectation that social behaviour would be an important predictor of iris colour was not supported, but critical information is still lacking for many species. Future studies of avian behavioural ecology should examine critically the role of iris coloration in individual species. , Rhodes Centenary issue
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- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K , Hulley, Patrick E
- Date: 2004
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6902 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011756
- Description: An initial survey of iris coloration in passerine birds (Aves: Passeriformes) showed that a brightly pigmented iris is much more common in southern African and Australian birds than in those from Europe, temperate North America, and Venezuela. However, the only statistical correlation reflected the distribution of particular bird families in these regions. Ten family-level groups considered to represent monophyletic taxa were then selected for a more detailed analysis, comparing iris coloration with distribution, status, taxonomy, plumage patterns, and some biological and behavioural characters for 1143 species. No pattern associating iris colour with particular traits was common to all families, but within families there were statistically significant associations with both plumage and biology. Our expectation that social behaviour would be an important predictor of iris colour was not supported, but critical information is still lacking for many species. Future studies of avian behavioural ecology should examine critically the role of iris coloration in individual species. , Rhodes Centenary issue
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Iris colour in passerine birds: why be bright-eyed?
- Craig, Adrian J F K, Hulley, Patrick E
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K , Hulley, Patrick E
- Date: 2004
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/449872 , vital:74860 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC96183
- Description: An initial survey of iris coloration in passerine birds (Aves : Passeriformes) showed that a brightly pigmented iris is much more common in southern African and Australian birds than in those from Europe, temperate North America, and Venezuela. However, the only statistical correlation reflected the distribution of particular bird families in these regions. Ten family-level groups considered to represent monophyletic taxa were then selected for a more detailed analysis, comparing iris coloration with distribution, status, taxonomy, plumage patterns, and some biological and behavioural characters for 1143 species. No pattern associating iris colour with particular traits was common to all families, but within families there were statistically significant associations with both plumage and biology. Our expectation that social behaviour would be an important predictor of iris colour was not supported, but critical information is still lacking for many species. Future studies of avian behavioural ecology should examine critically the role of iris coloration in individual species.
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- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K , Hulley, Patrick E
- Date: 2004
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/449872 , vital:74860 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC96183
- Description: An initial survey of iris coloration in passerine birds (Aves : Passeriformes) showed that a brightly pigmented iris is much more common in southern African and Australian birds than in those from Europe, temperate North America, and Venezuela. However, the only statistical correlation reflected the distribution of particular bird families in these regions. Ten family-level groups considered to represent monophyletic taxa were then selected for a more detailed analysis, comparing iris coloration with distribution, status, taxonomy, plumage patterns, and some biological and behavioural characters for 1143 species. No pattern associating iris colour with particular traits was common to all families, but within families there were statistically significant associations with both plumage and biology. Our expectation that social behaviour would be an important predictor of iris colour was not supported, but critical information is still lacking for many species. Future studies of avian behavioural ecology should examine critically the role of iris coloration in individual species.
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Timing of moult and breeding in the Cape White-eye, Zosterops pallidus, from three different geographical regions in South Africa
- Hulley, Patrick E, Craig, Adrian J F K, Underhill, George D, Bonnevie, Bo T, Nuttall, R J, De Swardt, D H
- Authors: Hulley, Patrick E , Craig, Adrian J F K , Underhill, George D , Bonnevie, Bo T , Nuttall, R J , De Swardt, D H
- Date: 2004
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/465570 , vital:76621 , https://doi.org/10.1071/MU03055
- Description: Cape White-eyes are widespread in South Africa, occurring in different climatic regions. We analysed primary moult data for large samples of this species from three geographical regions. There were no apparent long-term changes in duration or timing of moult during the nine years that the Western Cape results were collected, but sites within this region had different mean starting dates for primary moult. The Eastern Cape and Free State birds began moult about a month later than those in the Western Cape. This correlated well with the earlier breeding season in the Western Cape, and there was no evidence of overlap between moult and breeding. Mean primary moult duration was not significantly different among the sites or regions, and may be a species-specific trait. There was no evidence of regular long-distance movements in this species.
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- Authors: Hulley, Patrick E , Craig, Adrian J F K , Underhill, George D , Bonnevie, Bo T , Nuttall, R J , De Swardt, D H
- Date: 2004
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/465570 , vital:76621 , https://doi.org/10.1071/MU03055
- Description: Cape White-eyes are widespread in South Africa, occurring in different climatic regions. We analysed primary moult data for large samples of this species from three geographical regions. There were no apparent long-term changes in duration or timing of moult during the nine years that the Western Cape results were collected, but sites within this region had different mean starting dates for primary moult. The Eastern Cape and Free State birds began moult about a month later than those in the Western Cape. This correlated well with the earlier breeding season in the Western Cape, and there was no evidence of overlap between moult and breeding. Mean primary moult duration was not significantly different among the sites or regions, and may be a species-specific trait. There was no evidence of regular long-distance movements in this species.
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Moult, breeding season, mass, wing length, and dispersal in Cape Robins (Cossypha caffra) and Olive Thrushes (Turdus olivaceus) results from mist-netting garden birds
- Bonnevie, Bo T, Craig, Adrian J F K, Hulley, Patrick E, Underhill, George D
- Authors: Bonnevie, Bo T , Craig, Adrian J F K , Hulley, Patrick E , Underhill, George D
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/465420 , vital:76606 , https://doi.org/10.2989/00306520309485372
- Description: We compared a data set from the Western Cape, South Africa (GDU, n = 170 Olive Thrushes (Turdus olivaceus), n = 475 Cape Robins (Cossypha caffra)) with our captures in the Eastern Cape, South Africa (n = 197 Olive Thrushes, n = 203 Cape Robins). In both regions Olive Thrushes began moult in December-January, while wing-moult lasted for 89 days in the Western Cape compared to 53 days in the Eastern Cape. Cape Robins began moult in early November in the Western Cape, early January in the Eastern Cape and again the duration of wing-moult was longer in the Western Cape (64 days) than in the Eastern Cape (50 days). For both species the start of moult coincided with the end of the breeding season. Cape Robins were heavier and longer-winged in the Western Cape than in the Eastern Cape. There was no significant difference in mean mass or mean wing length of the Olive Thrush between the two provinces. Both ringing and atlas data suggest that Cape Robins are relatively more common than Olive Thrushes in the Western Cape, but not in the Eastern Cape. In the Eastern Cape we observed colour-ringed robins (n = 2) and thrushes (n = 2) on their breeding territory in all months of the year, suggesting that some individuals of both species are strongly resident.
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- Authors: Bonnevie, Bo T , Craig, Adrian J F K , Hulley, Patrick E , Underhill, George D
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/465420 , vital:76606 , https://doi.org/10.2989/00306520309485372
- Description: We compared a data set from the Western Cape, South Africa (GDU, n = 170 Olive Thrushes (Turdus olivaceus), n = 475 Cape Robins (Cossypha caffra)) with our captures in the Eastern Cape, South Africa (n = 197 Olive Thrushes, n = 203 Cape Robins). In both regions Olive Thrushes began moult in December-January, while wing-moult lasted for 89 days in the Western Cape compared to 53 days in the Eastern Cape. Cape Robins began moult in early November in the Western Cape, early January in the Eastern Cape and again the duration of wing-moult was longer in the Western Cape (64 days) than in the Eastern Cape (50 days). For both species the start of moult coincided with the end of the breeding season. Cape Robins were heavier and longer-winged in the Western Cape than in the Eastern Cape. There was no significant difference in mean mass or mean wing length of the Olive Thrush between the two provinces. Both ringing and atlas data suggest that Cape Robins are relatively more common than Olive Thrushes in the Western Cape, but not in the Eastern Cape. In the Eastern Cape we observed colour-ringed robins (n = 2) and thrushes (n = 2) on their breeding territory in all months of the year, suggesting that some individuals of both species are strongly resident.
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Bird Migration: A General Survey, (2nd edn) by P. Berthold: book review
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/465300 , vital:76592 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC17822
- Description: For more than 30 years, Peter Berthold has been involved in research on bird migration. His many publications and reviews make him an ideal candidate to undertake such an overview of the field, and this is now the second edition of a book on a topic that has fascinated naturalists and scientists for centuries.
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- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/465300 , vital:76592 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC17822
- Description: For more than 30 years, Peter Berthold has been involved in research on bird migration. His many publications and reviews make him an ideal candidate to undertake such an overview of the field, and this is now the second edition of a book on a topic that has fascinated naturalists and scientists for centuries.
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Group displays in pale-winged starlings
- Hulley, Patrick E, Craig, Adrian J F K, Walter, Grenville H
- Authors: Hulley, Patrick E , Craig, Adrian J F K , Walter, Grenville H
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/465380 , vital:76599 , https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2002.11657161
- Description: Cliff-nesting pale-winged starlings (Onychognathus nabouroup) gather on the cliff tops to perform Group Displays which include both aggressive and courtship elements: Hopping, Wing Stretching, Wing Drooping, Wing Flicking, Staring, Head Forward Threat and Butterfly Fluttering. These displays occur throughout the year, most frequently in the late afternoon. We suggest that this behaviour may be important in pair formation, and in establishing dominance relationships between birds breeding at the same site.
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- Authors: Hulley, Patrick E , Craig, Adrian J F K , Walter, Grenville H
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/465380 , vital:76599 , https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2002.11657161
- Description: Cliff-nesting pale-winged starlings (Onychognathus nabouroup) gather on the cliff tops to perform Group Displays which include both aggressive and courtship elements: Hopping, Wing Stretching, Wing Drooping, Wing Flicking, Staring, Head Forward Threat and Butterfly Fluttering. These displays occur throughout the year, most frequently in the late afternoon. We suggest that this behaviour may be important in pair formation, and in establishing dominance relationships between birds breeding at the same site.
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Evolutionary trends in southern African glossy starlings (Lamprotornis)
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 2000
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/465369 , vital:76598 , https://doi.org/10.1080/00306525.2000.9639921
- Description: In southern African six Lamprotornis species occur in savanna woodland. Locally up to five species may be sympatric, dependent on similar food sources and sharing roost sites. All are obligate tree-hole nesters. Morphological differences concern signal structures (tail length and shape, iris coloration, wing notches) rather than adaptations for feeding. There is very little sexual dimorphism, and when body size is accounted for, there are no significant inter- or intra-specific differences in bill dimensions. The long-tailed L. mevesii and L. australis are probably sister taxa, which evolved in southern Africa. L. nitens and L. acuticaudus are also likely to be southern African in origin, whereas L. chalybaeus and L. chloropterus may have evolved to the north, with their current distribution in southern Africa a consequence of later range expansion. Similar modifications of signal structures in sympatric species are evident in northern glossy starlings.
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- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 2000
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/465369 , vital:76598 , https://doi.org/10.1080/00306525.2000.9639921
- Description: In southern African six Lamprotornis species occur in savanna woodland. Locally up to five species may be sympatric, dependent on similar food sources and sharing roost sites. All are obligate tree-hole nesters. Morphological differences concern signal structures (tail length and shape, iris coloration, wing notches) rather than adaptations for feeding. There is very little sexual dimorphism, and when body size is accounted for, there are no significant inter- or intra-specific differences in bill dimensions. The long-tailed L. mevesii and L. australis are probably sister taxa, which evolved in southern Africa. L. nitens and L. acuticaudus are also likely to be southern African in origin, whereas L. chalybaeus and L. chloropterus may have evolved to the north, with their current distribution in southern Africa a consequence of later range expansion. Similar modifications of signal structures in sympatric species are evident in northern glossy starlings.
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