This tiny fellow from Africa has a scaly pattern on its back and flanks. It is a brown bird with a sandy rump and a prominent bib. A resident of an open arid region, related to Kalahari from South Africa, is distributed across NW South Africa, S to SW Botswana, and parts of Namibia.
They enjoy grains and insects hopping around on the ground; nestlings are strictly nourished with insects. Unlike most other birds, their nests are permanent, huge, and can house more than a hundred families passed on to future generations. Breeding is entirely dependent on rainfall; multiple broods are raised per year.
Distribution
Botswana
Namibia
South AfricaDid you know?
- These colonial nesting birds use trees or man-made structures (like poles) for building nests.
- Nesting material can weigh up to 1 tonne.
- Nest chambers are thermoregulated and are repaired and maintained regularly.
- Many symbiotic associations can be observed with other birds, like the African Pygmy Falcon (Africa’s smallest falcon) at the nesting sight; they share nests with other birds too.
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd / Flock
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
