Projects of the Avian Demography Unit

Mozambique Bird Atlas Project

Report May 2001

During May, field exploration took place mainly in the middle Zambezi valley, south of the Zambezi River, between Macossa and Tambara. The minor roads have mainly dried out now, but deep wheel ruts in the drying mud presented a significant obstacle, and some time was spent crawling under the vehicle with a spade.

The most interesting record was of a Western Banded Snake Eagle near Canxixe in the middle Zambezi Valley. The first records of this species in Mozambique were from the extreme west of Tete province in 1994, but there have been other sightings more recently as far east as Inhaminga, showing that the species overlaps here with the Southern Banded Snake Eagle. A large influx of Blackshouldered Kites into the Zambezi valley has occurred after the rains. This species is usually rare in this region.

There are several species pairs where one species replaces the other as one moves out of the Zambezi Valley into miombo woodland on higher ground. For Rednecked Francolin/Swainson's Francolin, Meyer's Parrot/Brownheaded Parrot and Burchell's Coucal/Senegal Coucal, the problem of determining the exact ranges and extent of overlap is vexatious, because their vocalisations are not easily distinguishable. The same pattern exists for Chinspot/Mozambique Batis and Redfaced/Longbilled Crombec, but these are readily distinguished by their calls.

The project vehicle which was initially on loan from DaimlerChrysler is now owned by the Endangered Wildlife Trust/Forum Natureza em Perigo. The Colt Division of DaimlerChrysler SA are thanked for this generous sponsorship.

Vincent Parker
Email: vinparker@yahoo.com