Tag: eye

Dribble

The red-knobbed coot has all-black plumage with a white bill and frontal shield. 2 red knobs are found on the head, at the top of the shield. This bird has grey legs and a red eye. These red knobs are more conspicuous during the breeding season. As a swimming bird, its toes are partially webbed. The female is around the size of a small chicken, 39 cm long. The male is larger in size. The red-knobbed coot feeds mainly on plant matter, but will occasionally take insects. Monogamous, the red-knobbed coot builds a floating nest on a mound of vegetation. Lays up to 8 eggs. The coot is a highly territorial species and will try and bully any intruders, even geese up to twice their size. This coot is often seen running across the water, without flying. Found throughout South Africa, in a wide range of freshwater bodies. Absent from arid areas.
Info source: http://southafrica.co.za/red-knobbed-coot.html
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The photo was taken during July 2017 at Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.

Dribble

Picture of the day, Wildlife

Reprimand

Zebra mares may give birth to one foal every 12 months. The birthing peak is during the rainy season. A mare gives birth within the vicinity of her group and while laying down on her side. The newborn foal weighs 30–35 kg (66–77 lb) and the afterbirth is rarely consumed. A newborn is capable of standing almost immediately and starts to eat grass within a week. At the moment of birth, a mother zebra keeps any other zebra away from her foal, including the stallion, the other mares, and even the previous offspring. Later, though, they all bond. Within the group, a foal has the same rank as its mother. The stallion is generally intolerant of foals that are not his and zebras may practice infanticide and feticide.
Info source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plains_zebra
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The photo was taken during November 2017 at Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.

Reprimand

Picture of the day, Wildlife

Timid

The bushbuck is closely related to the nyala and the kudu. Rams are graceful in appearance with a dark greyish-brown fur, white spots on the flanks and white socks. Ewes are smaller and lighter in colour than the rams, with more distinct stripes and spots. On the ears, legs, tail, chin and neck, both sexes have geometrically shaped white patches and a white band at the base of the neck. The markings on rams become prominent in their displays of arching their backs, slowly circling one another in a tense, high-stepping gait. This is done in order to maintain the strict age-based hierarchy of dominance amongst the rams, showing that fighting would be unnecessary. Bushbucks are most active during the early morning and part of the night. In the case of being alarmed, they can react by sinking to the ground and lying flat, may leap away or bark hoarsely. When surprised in the open, they stand dead still or slowly walk to the nearest cover. Most of their day is spent grazing and standing. They are the only non-territorial and solitary African antelope. Ewes prefer to limit engagement with their young to no more than a few hours a day, and adult rams actively avoid eye contact with one another. Neither rams nor ewes defend their home ranges, often overlapping with the home ranges of other bushbuck.
Info source: http://southafrica.co.za/bushbuck.html
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The photo was taken during September 2017 at Tshokwane Picnic Spot, Kruger National Park Mpumalanga, South Africa.

Timid

Picture of the day, Wildlife