Northern Black Korhaan or White-quilled Bustard (Afrotis afraoides)
This bird is one of the characters of semi-arid grasslands. In flight the white primary “windows” are diagnostic. It is a conspicuous bird, with a plain black neck, bright yellow legs and red base to the bill being key features. It is common and widespread, mostly sedentary and usually solitary.
The call is a raucous “kraak kraak” from the ground. It has faster notes in display flight.
It lives in arid and semi-arid savannah and grassland and also old agricultural lands. Its eating habits are omnivorous, preferring insects and small reptiles, also seeds. It’s eggs are laid on bare ground.
Courtship is elaborate, involving multiple females and one male and featuring exaggeratedly undulating flight displays, playful chasing and the male displaying his white breast patches. The male is extremely protective of his 200-300 m2 territory, fighting other males by striking with his wings, after which the other male usually flies off.
LOL! Your captions are brilliant 😀
Thank you…they just fell into place…
Haha, fabulous post, Rob! 🙂
Thanks the words came from the bird itself.. it’s antics just spoke to me…
Wonderful photos of this handsome fellow, and I love your fun captions. 🙂
Thanks … hope all is safe and well where you are… that woman is hitting the coast line hard, looking from here
Yes it looks really scary. My son has lost power already. Trees are down in their street, and I think they took power lines down with them.
My, my, he is flamboyant isn’t he? Great shots , love the captions!
Thanks … quite a character … with all his antics…
Fantastic photos BD and I love the captions! The female blends in so well with her surroundings!
Thank you… the female is so difficult to get a photo of… I think she’s always there you just don’t see her…
Bwahaha – great photo story 😀
Thank you…
now that is a rare breed you got there
It is a very comical bird and a treat to watch at this time of the year…
i enjoyed the photos of it
Where did he get those yellow stockings? I must have them! 🙂
Your captions were hilarious!
Can you imagine being born with them and having them all your life..?? he will probably look at you stockings and say I’d give my left toe for that colour….lol
Beautiful bird. The second to the last one sure has a good camouflage.
In all my time I think I have only capture three females on camera… their camouflage is just too good…
Ha hah ah aha .. loved this, you gave me quite the laugh!! awesome.. c
Thank you Cecilia… they are words that just came to mind watching the antics…
Wonderful pics … but love the captions more!
Thanks Frank.. they just seemed to fit the photos whilst taking them… wonderfully comical bird…
As we say, when the shoe fits …. !
your words go with the bird’s pictures. amusing and educational. what a combination; wonderful.
Thank you so much… the words just seemed to play out with the birds antics… every time just before his calling he did the full check, over and over… I watched him for a good half hour with his little flights etc… most amusing…
Wow the female is well hidden!
I have only in my long career of taking photos been able to take three of the female… I think most of the time one just doesn’t see them although they are there…
Great captions!! Gave me my morning laugh :).
They all just fell into place with the birds antics…
your captions as always are classic and put a smile on my face – thanks! Great photos too.
Thank you… yes those just seemed to pop into my head whilst photographing the bird in action… quite comical the whole process…
Very funny..lol 😀
Glad you enjoyed… such a comical bird actually…
so lovely…. and beautiful photographs… He makes serenade 🙂 Thanks and Love, nia
Thanks Nia… actually very comical to watch him serenade… then he jumps up flies around and lands in the same spot and starts all over again….
Love the captions and the bird!
Thanks… I took so many photos and when looking at them the words just came to me…