Birds

Trachyphonus vaillanti (Trachyphonus: Greek = rough voice; vaillanti: Latin, named after Francois Le Vaillant [1753-1824], "the first ornithologist to visit the Cape [South Africa]",…

Fiery-necked Nightjar (Caprimulgus pectoralis) Caprimulgus (Latin = to milk a goat, from the bird's wide-open mouth and habit of foraging around animal…

A: Southern Black Flycatcher:      Melaenornis pammelaina (Melaenornis (= Greek 'black bird') pammelaina (= Greek 'altogether olive', meaning black plumage with a greenish gloss); B:  Fork-tailed…

Circaetus pectoralis: Genus: Circus (Greek = harrier & aetos = eagle); species: pectoralis (Greek = of the breast) Circaete a poitrine noire (French);  Aquia-cobreira-de-peito-preto (Portuguese) Sound: http://www.xeno-canto.org/57552 I saw this very…

Psophocichla litsitsirupa (Latin)Zvichirori (Shona: general name for 'thrush'); Merle litsitsirupa (French); Tordo-de-peito-malhado (Portuguese). http://www.xeno-canto.org/300628 When you are trying to identify a…

Latin: Lagonisticta (Genus: lagonisticta = Greek 'spotted flanks'; species senegala = Latin 'from Senegal') Shona: kandirendire, tondondo;  French: amarante du Senegal; Portuguese: Peito-de-fogo-de-bico-vermelho These very pretty little birds (they're…

Numida meleagris (Latin Numida = derived from Nubia, a territory in ancient north-east Africa);  meleagris (Greek meleagris = from Meleagra, a mythical Greek hero).  Hanga (Shona);  Pintada da Guine…

 (Formerly known as "Heuglin's Robin") Cossypha heuglini (Genus: Cossypha = Greek name for the European Blackbird, a singing bird; Species: heuglini = after Theodor von Heuglin (1824-1876),…

"A female European Honey Buzzard Bird was fitted with a satellite tracking system in Finland recently and was of particular interest…

Scientific Name: Passer diffusus (Genus: passer = Latin sparrow; Species: diffusus = Latin diffuse, extensive, referring to grey-washed head and neck) Shona Name:  I cannot find in my usual sources a…