Use this guide to identify the common and uncommon
birds on the TASOK campus
The Birds of
TASOK
By Jeremy LaPlanche
nbarratt
Cattle Egret; Scientific Name: Bubulcus ibis
Common, 55cm Long; Seen on Soccer Field
after heavy rains or flying in V-shaped flocks.
Northern Grey-headed Sparrow; Scientific
Name: Passer griseus
Common, 15cm Long; Seen everywhere.
African Thrush; Scientific Name: Turdus pelios
Common, 21cm Long; Seen in most places.
Blue Waxbill; Scientific Name: Uraeginthus
angolensis
Common, 12cm Long; Seen in less wooded
areas. Males have more blue on flanks. Male
on left. They usually fly in pairs.
Pied Crow; Scientific Name: Corvus albus
Common, 45cm Long; Seen after lunch eating
leftovers. They are sometimes seen eating
bugs and chasing smaller birds.
Red-Chested Sunbird; Scientific Name: Cinnyris
erythrocercus
Uncommon, 12cm Long, Tail 3cm; Seen near
flowers. Males are green, red, and black,
females are brown.
Ring-Necked Dove; Scientific Name:
Streptopelia capicola
Uncommon, 25cm Long; Seen in open, grassy
areas
Blue-Spotted Wood Dove; Scientific Name:
Turtur afer
Rare, 20cm Long; Smaller than Ring-Necked
Dove. Notice light-blue head and three blue
spots on wing.
Pin-Tailed Widow; Scientific Name: Vidua
macroura
Common, Male 30cm Long (with tail), Female
12cm; Male is white and black and females are
brown and black (male on left and female on
right). Male’s tail is usually 12cm but can be
20cm during mating season. This bird is
parasites. Parasites mean it lays its eggs in
another birds nest. Immature looks like female
with grey beak instead of slightly red.
Hoopoe; Scientific Name: Upapa epops
Rare, 30cm Long; Male has more white in
wings than the female. Hoopoes can usually be
seen on the ground.
similar to a weaver bird’s nest, and they have a
second to sleep in. They build one every night
then they destroy it when they wake up.
Bronze Mannikin; Scientific Name: Lonchura
cucullata
Common, 9cm Long; These birds fly in small
groups and can be occasionally seen cutting
blades of grass which they use to make their
nests. They have one nest for eggs, this nest is
Little Bee-Eater; Scientific Name Merops
pusillus
Common, 17cm long; Little Bee-Eaters can be
found at the edge of open grassy areas. They
sit and wait until they glide and catch their
prey.
Fire-Crested Alethe;