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Full song

Swallows are able to produce many different calls or songs, which are used to express excitement, to communicate with others of the same species, during courtship, or as an alarm when a predator is in the area. The songs of males are related to the body condition of the bird and are presumably used by females to judge the physical condition and suitability for mating of males. Begging calls are used by the young when soliciting food from their parents. The typical song of swallows is a simple, sometimes musical twittering.

18 January 2018Picture of the day, Wildlife

Pecked

The Helmeted Guineafowl is widely distributed throughout southern Africa and was traditionally hunted for sport. These large, chicken-liked birds can easily be recognised by their relatively large size (53–58 cm), dark grey bodies with white speckles and by their featherless, helmet-like head, which is blue and red in colour. Males have a bigger helmet than the females. These birds also have short, rounded wings and tail feathers. The short beaks are accompanied by hanging wattles that surround the nostrils. Feet consist of three front toes and one hind toe.

15 January 2018Picture of the day, Wildlife

Striking

Zebras are boldly striped in black and white, and no two individuals look exactly alike. They also have black or dark muzzles. The natal coat of a foal is brown and white. All have vertical stripes on the forepart of the body, which tend towards the horizontal on the hindquarters.

5 January 2018Picture of the day, Wildlife