Shikra

Shikra Accipiter badius

Bure Hora, Ethiopia

20 January 2014

    Shikra is a small accipiter (25 - 30cm) found in parts of Asia and over a good deal of Africa. Its preferred habitat is dry, open woodland, with trees, riverine forest, even orchards or similar areas of cultivation. Unlike other accipiters its principal diet is comprised of small lizards and insects, although in true accipiter fashion it will take small birds, and even raids nests.

    It uses a perch in dense foliage from which to make a rapid dash to seize its prey, although in areas of human habitation it will perch more openly and rush onto a building to grab a lizard from the wall.

Red-bellied Parrot

Red-bellied Parrot Poicephalus rufiventris

Bure Hora, Ethiopia

20 January 2014

    The principal range of Red-bellied Parrot is in the Horn of Africa, but it also occurs in NE Tanzania, E and N Kenya. It favours dry bush and wooded country and it was exactly in this kind of habitat that we located it. This was the only day on our trip that we were able to see this species.

    The following picture has little merit photographically, but it does show the green on the lower belly and undertail.