A First Guide to South African Birds

Author: Leonard Gill revised by J.M. Winterbottom

Number of pages: 229

Year published: 1959

Edition: 6th

Published by: Maskew Miller Ltd

Hardcover

ISBN:

Web site: Pearson

The Wildebeest's Review of A First Guide to South African Birds

I have obtained an old copy of the 6th edition of Leonard Gill’s book “A First Guide to South African Birds” which was published in 1959. The first edition of this book was published in 1936 which predates the first edition of Roberts’s guide. Leonard Gill was a former director of the South African Museum. This edition has been revised by Dr. J. Winterbottom who has tried to retain as much of the original look and feel of the previous edition.

I am reviewing this quaint book in 2024 and much has changed since it was published. Although much has changed there is still a lot of familiar things in the book. Glancing at the colour plates the images of the birds are small when compared to today’s field guides. The paintings, done by Dr. Gill himself, are however recognisable although this can’t be said for the LBJ’s which would definitely be a problem to identify.

The sequence of the birds is far-removed from what we expect today! It starts with the seedeaters and ends with the Ostrich. Other birds are not shown with the rest of their families. Some, like the Trumpeter Hornbill, are depicted on a plate of “other large birds.”

When you consider how long ago that this book was published it was a remarkable achievement and has a deserved place in the history of South African ornithological publications.

Some of the subjects in this publication

Cape Bunting - Page: 18
Golden-breasted Bunting - Page: 18
Lark-like Bunting - Page: 19
Forest Canary - Page: 19
Black-headed Canary - Page: 19
Cape Canary - Page: 19
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting - Page: 19
Black-throated Canary - Page: 20
Brimstone Canary - Page: 20
Yellow Canary - Page: 20
Yellow-fronted Canary - Page: 20
White-throated Canary - Page: 20
Common Chaffinch - Page: 21
Cape Siskin - Page: 21
Streaky-headed Seedeater - Page: 21
Protea Seedeater - Page: 21
Cape Sparrow - Page: 22
Great Sparrow - Page: 22
Yellow-throated Petronia - Page: 22
Southern Grey-headed Sparrow - Page: 22
Southern Brown-throated Weaver - Page: 23
Sociable Weaver - Page: 23
Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver - Page: 24
Dark-backed Weaver - Page: 24
Southern Masked-Weaver - Page: 24
Scaly-feathered Finch - Page: 24
Cape Weaver - Page: 25
Lesser Masked-Weaver - Page: 25
Village Weaver - Page: 25
Spectacled Weaver - Page: 25
White-winged Widowbird - Page: 28
Red-collared Widowbird - Page: 28
Long-tailed Widowbird - Page: 28
Fan-tailed Widowbird - Page: 28
Red-headed Finch - Page: 29
Red-backed Mannikin - Page: 29
Bronze Mannikin - Page: 29
Magpie Mannikin - Page: 29
African Firefinch - Page: 30
Red-billed Firefinch - Page: 30
Cut-throat Finch - Page: 30
Orange-winged Pytilia - Page: 30
African Quailfinch - Page: 30
Green-winged Pytilia - Page: 30
Blue Waxbill - Page: 31
Black-faced Waxbill - Page: 31
Orange-breasted Waxbill - Page: 31
Swee Waxbill - Page: 31
Common Waxbill - Page: 31
Village Indigobird - Page: 34
Violet-eared Waxbill - Page: 34
Pin-tailed Whydah - Page: 34
Shaft-tailed Whydah - Page: 34
Long-tailed Paradise-Whydah - Page: 35
Cuckoo Finch - Page: 35
Marico Sunbird - Page: 36
Orange-breasted Sunbird - Page: 36
Malachite Sunbird - Page: 36
Scarlet-chested Sunbird - Page: 37
White-bellied Sunbird - Page: 37
Amethyst Sunbird - Page: 37
Greater Double-collared Sunbird - Page: 37
Dusky Sunbird - Page: 38
Olive Sunbird - Page: 38
Grey Sunbird - Page: 38
Cape Sugarbird - Page: 38
Collared Sunbird - Page: 38
Cape White-eye - Page: 39
Orange River White-eye - Page: 39
African Yellow White-eye - Page: 40
Grey Tit - Page: 40
Southern Black Tit - Page: 40
Cape Penduline-Tit - Page: 40
Pied Crow - Page: 41
Cape Crow - Page: 41
White-necked Raven - Page: 41
Common Starling - Page: 42
Red-billed Oxpecker - Page: 42
Pale-winged Starling - Page: 43
Red-winged Starling - Page: 43
Pied Starling - Page: 43
Wattled Starling - Page: 43
Violet-backed Starling - Page: 44
Burchells Starling - Page: 44
Cape Glossy Starling - Page: 44
African Golden Oriole - Page: 45
Eurasian Golden Oriole - Page: 45
Black-headed Oriole - Page: 45
Crimson-breasted Shrike - Page: 46
Common Fiscal - Page: 46
Red-backed Shrike - Page: 46
Lesser Grey Shrike - Page: 46
Southern Boubou - Page: 47
Magpie Shrike - Page: 47
Black-backed Puffback - Page: 47
Brown-crowned Tchagra - Page: 48
Black-crowned Tchagra - Page: 48
Southern Tchagra - Page: 48
Bokmakierie - Page: 49
Olive Bush-Shrike - Page: 49
Orange-breasted Bush-Shrike - Page: 49
Black-fronted Bush-Shrike - Page: 49
Gorgeous Bush-Shrike - Page: 49
Eastern Nicator - Page: 50
Brubru - Page: 50
Grey-headed Bush-Shrike - Page: 50
Southern White-crowned Shrike - Page: 50
White-crested Helmet-Shrike - Page: 51
Retzs Helmet-Shrike - Page: 51
Grey Cuckooshrike - Page: 51
Fork-tailed Drongo - Page: 52
Black Cuckooshrike - Page: 52
Square-tailed Drongo - Page: 52
White-breasted Cuckooshrike - Page: 52
African Dusky Flycatcher - Page: 53
Spotted Flycatcher - Page: 53
Grey Tit-Flycatcher - Page: 54
Southern Black Flycatcher - Page: 54
Ashy Flycatcher - Page: 54
Chestnut-vented Tit-Babbler - Page: 54
Layards Tit-Babbler - Page: 54
Pale Flycatcher - Page: 55
Fiscal Flycatcher - Page: 55
Marico Flycatcher - Page: 55
Cape Batis - Page: 55
Chat Flycatcher - Page: 55
Pririt Batis - Page: 56
Woodwards Batis - Page: 56
African Paradise-Flycatcher - Page: 56
Blue-mantled Crested-Flycatcher - Page: 56
Chinspot Batis - Page: 56
Dark-capped Yellow Warbler - Page: 57
Black-throated Wattle-eye - Page: 57
Little Rush-Warbler - Page: 58
Lesser Swamp-Warbler - Page: 58
Knysna Warbler - Page: 58
Garden Warbler - Page: 58
African Reed-Warbler - Page: 59
Karoo Prinia - Page: 59
Broad-tailed Warbler - Page: 59
Rufous-eared Warbler - Page: 59
Barred Wren-Warbler - Page: 60
Cape Grassbird - Page: 60
Levaillants Cisticola - Page: 61
Cloud Cisticola - Page: 61
Red-faced Crombec - Page: 61
Burnt-necked Eremomela - Page: 62
Willow Warbler - Page: 62
Yellow-throated Woodland-Warbler - Page: 62
Yellow-bellied Eremomela - Page: 62
Green-capped Eremomela - Page: 62
Cape Robin-Chat - Page: 63
Green-backed Camaroptera - Page: 63
Bar-throated Apalis - Page: 63
White-throated Robin-Chat - Page: 66
White-starred Robin - Page: 66
White-browed Robin-Chat - Page: 66
Chorister Robin-Chat - Page: 66
Red-capped Robin-Chat - Page: 66
Karoo Scrub-Robin - Page: 67
Kalahari Scrub-Robin - Page: 67
White-browed Scrub-Robin - Page: 67
Brown Scrub-Robin - Page: 67
Bush Blackcap - Page: 67
Capped Wheatear - Page: 68
Familiar Chat - Page: 68
Mountain Wheatear - Page: 68
Tractrac Chat - Page: 69
African Stonechat - Page: 69
Sickle-winged Chat - Page: 69
Ant-eating Chat - Page: 69
Karoo Chat - Page: 70
Arnots Chat - Page: 70
Cape Rock-Thrush - Page: 70
Mocking Cliff-Chat - Page: 70
Olive Thrush - Page: 71
Kurrichane Thrush - Page: 71
Orange Ground-Thrush - Page: 71
Short-toed Rock-Thrush - Page: 71
Dark-capped Bulbul - Page: 72
Cape Bulbul - Page: 72
Spotted Ground-Thrush - Page: 72
Groundscraper Thrush - Page: 72
African Red-eyed Bulbul - Page: 72
Yellow-bellied Greenbul - Page: 73
Yellow-streaked Greenbul - Page: 73
Arrow-marked Babbler - Page: 73
Sombre Greenbul - Page: 73
Terrestrial Brownbul - Page: 73
Southern Pied Babbler - Page: 74
Cape Rock-jumper - Page: 74
Drakensberg Rock-jumper - Page: 74
Sabota Lark - Page: 75
Cape Clapper Lark - Page: 75
Karoo Lark - Page: 76
Large-billed Lark - Page: 76
Grey-backed Sparrowlark - Page: 76
Cape Long-billed Lark - Page: 76
Agulhas Long-billed Lark - Page: 76
Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark - Page: 77
Bushveld Pipit - Page: 78
Short-tailed Pipit - Page: 78
Cape Longclaw - Page: 78
African Rock Pipit - Page: 78
Yellow-breasted Pipit - Page: 78
Striped Pipit - Page: 78
Long-billed Pipit - Page: 78
Rosy-throated Longclaw - Page: 79
Yellow-throated Longclaw - Page: 79
Cape Wagtail - Page: 79
African Pied Wagtail - Page: 79
Yellow Wagtail - Page: 82
Mountain Wagtail - Page: 82
Sand Martin - Page: 82
Brown-throated Martin - Page: 82
Barn Swallow - Page: 83
South African Cliff-Swallow - Page: 83
Rock Martin - Page: 83
Banded Martin - Page: 83
Wire-tailed Swallow - Page: 84
Pearl-breasted Swallow - Page: 84
White-throated Swallow - Page: 84
Greater Striped Swallow - Page: 84
Grey-rumped Swallow - Page: 85
Blue Swallow - Page: 85
Black Saw-wing - Page: 85
Lesser Striped Swallow - Page: 85
Red-breasted Swallow - Page: 85
African Broadbill - Page: 85
Alpine Swift - Page: 86
White-rumped Swift - Page: 87
Little Swift - Page: 87
Horus Swift - Page: 87
African Black Swift - Page: 87
European Nightjar - Page: 88
African Palm-Swift - Page: 88
Pennant-winged Nightjar - Page: 89
Rufous-cheeked Nightjar - Page: 89
Square-tailed Nightjar - Page: 89
Swamp Nightjar - Page: 89
Fiery-necked Nightjar - Page: 89
Freckled Nightjar - Page: 89
Cardinal Woodpecker - Page: 90
Olive Woodpecker - Page: 90
Bennetts Woodpecker - Page: 90
Red-throated Wryneck - Page: 91
Knysna Woodpecker - Page: 91
Ground Woodpecker - Page: 91
Bearded Woodpecker - Page: 91
Greater Honeyguide - Page: 92
Lesser Honeyguide - Page: 93
Acacia Pied Barbet - Page: 93
Black-collared Barbet - Page: 93
Brown-backed Honeybird - Page: 93
Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird - Page: 94
White-eared Barbet - Page: 94
Green Barbet (Woodwards) - Page: 94
Crested Barbet - Page: 94
Red-fronted Tinkerbird - Page: 94
Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird - Page: 94
Red-faced Mousebird - Page: 95
White-backed Mousebird - Page: 95
Speckled Mousebird - Page: 95
Malachite Kingfisher - Page: 98
Pied Kingfisher - Page: 98
Giant Kingfisher - Page: 98
Half-collared Kingfisher - Page: 98
Brown-hooded Kingfisher - Page: 99
Woodland Kingfisher - Page: 99
Mangrove Kingfisher - Page: 99
Striped Kingfisher - Page: 99
African Pygmy-Kingfisher - Page: 99
White-fronted Bee-eater - Page: 100
Little Bee-eater - Page: 100
Southern Carmine Bee-eater - Page: 100
European Bee-eater - Page: 100
Lilac-breasted Roller - Page: 101
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater - Page: 101
European Roller - Page: 101
Purple Roller - Page: 102
African Hoopoe - Page: 102
Broad-billed Roller - Page: 102
Green Wood-Hoopoe - Page: 102
Common Scimitarbill - Page: 103
Narina Trogon - Page: 103
African Grey Hornbill - Page: 104
Crowned Hornbill - Page: 104
Red-billed Hornbill - Page: 104
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill - Page: 105
Southern Ground-Hornbill - Page: 105
Trumpeter Hornbill - Page: 105
Cape Parrot - Page: 106
Rosy-faced Lovebird - Page: 106
Meyers Parrot - Page: 106
Brown-headed Parrot - Page: 106
Common Cuckoo - Page: 107
African Cuckoo - Page: 107
Great Spotted Cuckoo - Page: 108
Red-chested Cuckoo - Page: 108
Black Cuckoo - Page: 108
Jacobin Cuckoo - Page: 109
Levaillants Cuckoo - Page: 109
Diderick Cuckoo - Page: 109
African Emerald Cuckoo - Page: 109
Klaass Cuckoo - Page: 110
Burchells Coucal - Page: 110
Green Malkoha - Page: 111
Knysna Turaco - Page: 111
Purple-crested Turaco - Page: 111
African Green-Pigeon - Page: 114
Speckled Pigeon - Page: 114
Grey Go-away-bird - Page: 114
Cape Turtle-Dove - Page: 115
African Mourning Dove - Page: 115
Laughing Dove - Page: 115
Red-eyed Dove - Page: 115
African Olive-Pigeon - Page: 115
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove - Page: 116
Namaqua Dove - Page: 116
Tambourine Dove - Page: 116
Lemon Dove - Page: 116
Double-banded Sandgrouse - Page: 117
Namaqua Sandgrouse - Page: 117
Yellow-throated Sandgrouse - Page: 118
Burchells Sandgrouse - Page: 118
African Grass-Owl - Page: 119
Marsh Owl - Page: 119
Barn Owl - Page: 119
Southern White-faced Scops-Owl - Page: 120
African Wood-Owl - Page: 120
African Scops-Owl - Page: 120
Pearl-spotted Owlet - Page: 120
African Barred Owlet - Page: 121
Verreauxs Eagle-Owl - Page: 121
Cape Eagle-Owl - Page: 121
Spotted Eagle-Owl - Page: 121
Pels Fishing-Owl - Page: 122
Osprey - Page: 123
Eurasian Hobby - Page: 124
Peregrine Falcon - Page: 124
African Hobby - Page: 124
Lanner Falcon - Page: 124
Lesser Kestrel - Page: 125
Greater Kestrel - Page: 125
Rock Kestrel - Page: 125
Amur Falcon - Page: 125
African Cuckoo Hawk - Page: 126
Black-shouldered Kite - Page: 126
Pygmy Falcon - Page: 126
Yellow-billed Kite - Page: 126
African Fish-Eagle - Page: 127
Bateleur - Page: 127
Black-chested Snake-Eagle - Page: 127
African Crowned Eagle - Page: 130
Southern Banded Snake-Eagle - Page: 130
Long-crested Eagle - Page: 130
Brown Snake-Eagle - Page: 130
Lizard Buzzard - Page: 130
Booted Eagle - Page: 131
African Hawk-Eagle - Page: 131
Martial Eagle - Page: 131
Wahlbergs Eagle - Page: 132
Verreauxs Eagle - Page: 132
Ayress Hawk-Eagle - Page: 132
Bearded Vulture - Page: 132
Steppe Buzzard - Page: 133
Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk - Page: 133
Jackal Buzzard - Page: 133
Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk - Page: 134
Little Sparrowhawk - Page: 134
Black Sparrowhawk - Page: 134
Shikra - Page: 134
Gabar Goshawk - Page: 134
African Marsh-Harrier - Page: 135
Black Harrier - Page: 135
Montagus Harrier - Page: 135
Pallid Harrier - Page: 135
Secretarybird - Page: 136
African Harrier-Hawk - Page: 136
White-backed Vulture - Page: 137
Lappet-faced Vulture - Page: 137
Cape Vulture - Page: 137
Hooded Vulture - Page: 138
Egyptian Vulture - Page: 138
White-headed Vulture - Page: 138
White-fronted Plover - Page: 140
Common Ringed Plover - Page: 140
Three-banded Plover - Page: 141
Kentish Plover - Page: 141
Caspian Plover - Page: 141
Kittlitzs Plover - Page: 141
Chestnut-banded Plover - Page: 141
Blacksmith Lapwing - Page: 142
Grey Plover - Page: 142
Black-winged Lapwing - Page: 142
Senegal Lapwing - Page: 142
Crowned Lapwing - Page: 142
African Black Oystercatcher - Page: 143
African Wattled Lapwing - Page: 143
Ruddy Turnstone - Page: 143
Eurasian Oystercatcher - Page: 143
Pied Avocet - Page: 146
Black-winged Stilt - Page: 146
African Snipe - Page: 146
Greater Painted-snipe - Page: 147
Great Snipe - Page: 147
Curlew Sandpiper - Page: 147
Little Stint - Page: 148
Sanderling - Page: 148
Ruff - Page: 148
Wood Sandpiper - Page: 149
Common Sandpiper - Page: 149
Common Greenshank - Page: 149
Marsh Sandpiper - Page: 149
Green Sandpiper - Page: 150
Red Phalarope - Page: 150
Eurasian Curlew - Page: 150
Terek Sandpiper - Page: 150
Bar-tailed Godwit - Page: 150
Common Whimbrel - Page: 150
Spotted Redshank - Page: 150
Bronze-winged Courser - Page: 151
Temmincks Courser - Page: 151
Double-banded Courser - Page: 151
Burchells Courser - Page: 151
Black-winged Pratincole - Page: 151
Lesser Jacana - Page: 153
African Jacana - Page: 153
Kori Bustard - Page: 154
Spotted Thick-knee - Page: 154
Water Thick-knee - Page: 154
White-bellied Korhaan - Page: 155
Karoo Korhaan - Page: 155
Blue Korhaan - Page: 155
Southern Black Korhaan - Page: 156
Red-crested Korhaan - Page: 156
Coqui Francolin - Page: 157
Grey-winged Francolin - Page: 157
Crested Francolin - Page: 157
Red-winged Francolin - Page: 158
Orange River Francolin - Page: 158
Cape Spurfowl - Page: 158
Natal Spurfowl - Page: 158
Shelleys Francolin - Page: 158
Red-necked Spurfowl - Page: 159
Harlequin Quail - Page: 159
Common Quail - Page: 159
Swainsons Spurfowl - Page: 159
Helmeted Guineafowl - Page: 160
Kurrichane Buttonquail - Page: 161
Hottentot Buttonquail - Page: 161
Crested Guineafowl - Page: 161
African Rail - Page: 162
Black Crake - Page: 162
Baillons Crake - Page: 163
Striped Flufftail - Page: 163
Red-chested Flufftail - Page: 163
Buff-spotted Flufftail - Page: 163
Red-knobbed Coot - Page: 164
Common Moorhen - Page: 164
African Finfoot - Page: 164
African Purple Swamphen - Page: 164
Hadeda Ibis - Page: 165
African Sacred Ibis - Page: 165
Southern Bald Ibis - Page: 166
Glossy Ibis - Page: 166
African Spoonbill - Page: 166
African Pygmy-Goose - Page: 167
Spur-winged Goose - Page: 167
Comb Duck - Page: 167
White-faced Duck - Page: 167
South African Shelduck - Page: 168
Yellow-billed Duck - Page: 168
Fulvous Duck - Page: 168
Egyptian Goose - Page: 168
Cape Shoveler - Page: 169
Cape Teal - Page: 169
Hottentot Teal - Page: 169
Red-billed Teal - Page: 169
African Black Duck - Page: 169
Southern Pochard - Page: 170
White-backed Duck - Page: 170
Maccoa Duck - Page: 170
Grey Heron - Page: 171
Black-headed Heron - Page: 171
Great Egret - Page: 172
Goliath Heron - Page: 172
Purple Heron - Page: 172
Yellow-billed Egret - Page: 172
Little Egret - Page: 172
Black Heron - Page: 173
Squacco Heron - Page: 173
Cattle Egret - Page: 173
Green-backed Heron - Page: 173
Rufous-bellied Heron - Page: 174
Black-crowned Night-Heron - Page: 174
White-backed Night-Heron - Page: 174
Little Bittern - Page: 174
Hamerkop - Page: 175
Eurasian Bittern - Page: 175
Dwarf Bittern - Page: 175
White Stork - Page: 178
Marabou Stork - Page: 179
Abdims Stork - Page: 179
Black Stork - Page: 179
Woolly-necked Stork - Page: 179
Saddle-billed Stork - Page: 179
Blue Crane - Page: 180
Yellow-billed Stork - Page: 180
Wattled Crane - Page: 181
Grey Crowned Crane - Page: 181
Greater Flamingo - Page: 182
Lesser Flamingo - Page: 182
Kelp Gull - Page: 183
Heuglins Gull - Page: 183
Grey-headed Gull - Page: 184
Subantarctic Skua - Page: 184
South Polar Skua - Page: 184
Common Tern - Page: 185
Caspian Tern - Page: 185
Swift Tern - Page: 185
Sandwich Tern - Page: 186
Roseate Tern - Page: 186
Arctic Tern - Page: 186
Antarctic Tern - Page: 186
White-winged Tern - Page: 187
Damara Tern - Page: 187
Whiskered Tern - Page: 187
African Skimmer - Page: 188
Brown Noddy - Page: 188
White-breasted Cormorant - Page: 189
Cape Cormorant - Page: 189
Bank Cormorant - Page: 189
African Darter - Page: 190
Reed Cormorant - Page: 190
Cape Gannet - Page: 191
Great White Pelican - Page: 192
Pink-backed Pelican - Page: 192
White-chinned Petrel - Page: 194
Great Shearwater - Page: 194
European Storm-Petrel - Page: 194
Black-bellied Storm-Petrel - Page: 194
White-headed Petrel - Page: 194
Wilsons Storm-Petrel - Page: 194
Sooty Shearwater - Page: 194
Wandering Albatross - Page: 195
Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross - Page: 195
Black-browed Albatross - Page: 195
Southern Giant-Petrel - Page: 195
Pintado Petrel - Page: 195
Antarctic Prion - Page: 195
Little Grebe - Page: 199
Black-necked Grebe - Page: 199
Great Crested Grebe - Page: 199
Rockhopper Penguin - Page: 200
Common Ostrich - Page: 200
African Penguin - Page: 200
Cape Town - Page: 202
Namaqualand - Page: 207
Kruger National Park - Page: 208
Kruger National Park - Page: 208

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