PHILIP VAN DEN BERG (U34) writes: Recently quite a number of our residents have been surprised by medium sized dull brown birds visiting gardens in the village. See photograph above.
As a matter of fact, the previous year an adult bird was often seen with chicks in the northern section of the village. See photograph above.
On occasion residents have also heard their loud raucous calls. See photograph below.
These birds are Natal Spurfowls (Afr. Natalse Fisant), widespread bushveld game birds that prefer denser vegetation such as the vegetation surrounding the village.
As shown in the photograph below, they feed on the ground, and like all members of this family, they like to scratch in leaf litter and loose soil to expose food items. They feed on insects, molluscs, seeds, roots and fruit.
They call at dusk and dawn, often perched on a high branch. See photograph below.
Residents can also hear two other members of this family in the bush around the village - the common Swainson’s Spurfowl and the Crested Francolin. A further member, the Helmeted Guineafowl, can regularly be seen along the western fence of the village.
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