OBSERVATIONS ON THE BEHAVIOUR OF BIRDS IN SOUTHERN RHODESIA

Maclean, G. L. 1974. The breeding biology of the Rufouseared Warbler and its bearing on the genus Prinia. Ostrich 45: 9–14.

The Rufouseared Warbler Prinia pectoralis, a common species of the Kalahari scrub, nests after rain at any time of the year. Nest construction and nest sites are described. The clutch is normally three or four eggs. Incubation takes 12 to 13 days and the nestling period is 11 to 13 days. Data suggest that the Rufouseared Warbler is not a member of the genus Priniu, the generic position it currently occupies.     

TAXONOMY OF THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN ZOSTEROPS

The four major groupings into which the Zosterops forms of southern African can be arranged have for long been treated by conservative systematists as constituting four discrete species (Z. capensis, Z. pallidus, Z. virens and Z. senegalensis). In a major study, published in 1957, Moreau arrived at the tentative conclusion that in zoo-geographical South Africa Z. cupensis and Z. wirens are clearly conspecific, Z. pallidus is a doubtful monotypic species, and Z. senegalais is a polytypic species of wide continental range, specifically segregated from the foregoing on the basis of a wingltail ratio character, and of juxtaposition without evidence of interbreeding. A new study of the complex problem of Zosterops relationships in South Africa based on a critical study of over 900 specimens examined in the Durban Museum, suggests that only two species (Z. pallidus and Z. senegahsis), very closely related and part of the same superspecies, are actually involved.     

SUBSPECIATION IN THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN POPULATIONS OF THE SABOTA LARK MIRAFRA SABOTA SMITH

Howard, G. W. &; Aspinwall, D. R. 1984. Aerial censuses of Shoebills, Saddlebilled Storks and Wattled Cranes at the Bangweulu Swamps and Kafue Flats, Zambia. Ostrich 55: 207–212.

Aerial counts of three wetland species of uncertain conservation status were made in Zambia when the opportunity arose during Lechwe Kobus leche censuses. A portion of the Bangweulu Swamps was estimated to have a minimum population of 232 Shoebills Balaeniceps rex, 275 Saddlebilled Storks Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis and 1718 Wattled Cranes Bugeranus carunculatus. An estimate of 3282 Wattled Cranes on part of the Kafue Flats was very similar to that calculated in a count there nine years previously. Further censuses are recommended.     

THE BIRDS OF THE ALA DAGH MOUNTAINS, SOUTHERN TURKEY

The paper lists the birds seen on visits to the Ala Dagh Mountains, Southern Turkey, in September 1965 and June 1966. It also describes observations made on bird behaviour in relation to the environment, and the avifauna of the area is compared with other mountain regions in the western Palaearctic.     

THE SURVIVAL RATES OF SOME SOUTHERN AFRICAN PASSERINES

Yom-Tov, Y., McCleery, R. & Oatley, T. 1994. The survival rates of some southern African passerines. Ostrich 65:329-332.

Little information is available on survival rates of southern hemisphere passerines, but two recent studies indicate that Australian passerines tend to live longer than their northern hemisphere relatives. The aim of this paper is to provide data on survival of some South African passerines and compare them with Australian data. The survival rates of eleven species (eight genera) of South African passerines were calculated using recapture data provided by the South African Bird Ringing Unit for birds whose retraps occurred more than 12 months after the original ringing. Survival did not depend on either the length of the study or body mass. Mean survival rate was similar to that of 32 species of Australian passerines, which is at least 1,2 greater than that of British passerines.