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Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Swainson's Spurfowl

On  our way to the Parkrun on Saturday, a pair of spurfowl flew into the bush next to the road and I managed two [not-so-good] photos. 

Swainson's Spurfowl

The sexes of these birds are alike although the male is considerably larger than the female. It's a common resident, normally in pairs or small parties. It's found in a variety of woodland, savanna and grasslands. Since the servitude road has been mowed, I've seen several foraging for breakfast when the dogs and I are out there early in the morning. The Swainson's Spurfowl eats a variety of tubers, bulbs, roots, seeds and berries and supplements this [winter] diet with insects in the summer. I'm sure this is what they find in the newly mowed grass on our road at present. 

The Swainson's Spurfowl's call is a harsh: krrraaa, krraaa, krraa... In the wild this Spurfowl hybridizes with the Red-necked Spurfowl and the Natal Spurfowl. 

I'm linking my post to Wild Bird Wednesday here

HAPPY WEDNESDAY TO YOU ALL! 

4 comments:

  1. This is very interesting post. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. this bird is kind of like a turkey to me. first time I have seen or heard of one of these.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hello Jo, what a cool looking bird. Great sighting. Have a happy day, enjoy!

    ReplyDelete

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