Posted on by Jennifer Sawicky Photography

Mousebirds

More pictures from my session at the Mkombe hide at Zimanga.  The mousebirds were a favourite of the photo coordinator, and the bird she most hoped seeing when we started our hide session.  The red faced mousebird only made brief appearance, but a good number of speckled mousebirds spent a great deal of time at the water.

Looking at the photos now, I find a resemblance between the mousebird and a cardinal (head and beak shape) though I must be honest I have not seen a cardinal other than in photos for over 30 years, so I could be completely wrong about that.

Wikipedia provides some information on the behaviour and habitat of the mousebird:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mousebird

Have a great day!

A red faced mousebird leans in for a drink. This type of mousebird showed up before anyone even had their cameras attached to the tripods in the hide, and never came back again. 1/400 sec, f5.6, ISO 1600
A red faced mousebird leans in for a drink. This mousebird showed up to our afternoon session at the Bhejane hide, before anyone even had their camera attached to a tripod, and never came back again.
1/400 sec, f5.6, ISO 1600
A long mousebird perched above the watering hole. 1/400 sec, f5.6, ISO 1000
A long mousebird perched above the watering hole.
1/400 sec, f5.6, ISO 1000
Feathers ruffled.
Feathers ruffled.
Five mousebirds around the watering hole on a sunny spring morning. 1/2500 sec, f9.0, ISO 1600
Five mousebirds around the watering hole on a sunny spring morning.
1/2500 sec, f9.0, ISO 1600
Wings back and claws extended as the mousebird comes into land at the watering hole. 1/2500 sec, f9.0 ISO 1600
Wings back and claws extended as the mousebird comes into land at the watering hole.
1/2500 sec, f9.0 ISO 1600
Two drinking, one eyeing up the situation from the perch, and one on the way out (bet you didn't notice that one at first!) 1/2500 sec, f9.0, ISO 2000
Two drinking, one eyeing up the situation from the perch, and one on the way out (bet you didn’t notice that one at first!)
1/2500 sec, f9.0, ISO 2000
A mousebird lands at the water hole as an emerald spotted wood dove takes off. 1/2500 sec, f9.0, ISO 2000
A mousebird lands at the water hole as an emerald spotted wood dove takes off.
1/2500 sec, f9.0, ISO 2000
The long tail feathers of the mousebird are well displayed during take off. 1/2500 sec, f9.0 ISO 2000
The long tail feathers of the mousebird are well displayed during take off.
1/2500 sec, f9.0 ISO 2000
The last of the mousebirds takes off for the trees. 1/2500 sec, f9.0, ISO 2000
The last of the mousebirds takes off for the trees.
1/2500 sec, f9.0, ISO 2000

0 Replies to “Mousebirds”

  1. You are on a blog roll!! This is so fun to see your pics! I love the feathers ruffled and amazed how much they blend in with the log and surroundings! Great work!!!

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    Reply

    1. Thanks Christy! It’s been great to dedicate a little more time to going through pictures and posting them. It really makes me smile. Fingers crossed for something today as well.

      Reply

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