South African Garden Birds We hope you love our latest feature, South African Garden Birds. Send us your photos of common garden birds and you may see them published in one of our upcoming issues! Photos can be submitted to editor@seniorlivingmag.co.za
Dark-Capped Bulbul – A common garden resident around South Africa, it can be easily identified by its dark cap. The face and chin are a dark brown, the crest is often erect, and it has bright yellow undertail coverts. Its cup nest is built by the female and is usually 2 – 4 metres off the ground. The Dark-Capped Bulbul is parasitized by the Jacobin Cuckoo, who migrates to Southern Africa and breeds between October to April.
Cape Turtle Dove – This common dove has a black hind neck collar, is blue-grey in colour, and has white outer tail feathers conspicuous in flight. It is similar to the larger Red-eyed Dove, but doesn’t have red around the eye. Don’t confuse it with the Laughing Dove either: the Cape Turtle dove does not have the chestnut colouring on its upper parts. Some say the Cape Turtle Dove is saying “work harder, work harder”; others say it’s “drink lager, drink lager” – which voice will you listen to?
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