mousebird – Jennifer Sawicky Photography

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

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

Category: mousebird

Mousebirds