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

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