Zambia by Richard Vaughan
Unlike many of her neighbours, Zambia is fortunate in that farming activities and urban sprawl have so far posed little threat to the well being of birds: they are still to be found in tremendous variety.
More Zambian birds can be found on the link below:
THE ZAMBIAN BARBET
About the bird on the 1 kwacha coin.
It's known as the Zambian Barbet (Lybius chaplini) and it's only found in Zambia; it's endemic to Zambia.
The bird was named in honor of Sir Francis Drummond Percy Chaplin, a former colonial Administrator who served as administrator for the British South Africa Company in Southern Rhodesia from 1914 to 1923.
The Zambian Barbet measures about 19 cm in length (including the tail), and weighs between 64 - 75 grams. This plump-looking barbet has a large head and a heavy bill fringed with bristles.
Its ruffled plumage is mostly white, except for the distinctive red markings around the eyes. The tail is black and the black wigs are edged yellow.
One unique thing about this bird is, it doesn't nest in your typical grass or stick nests but rather uses its beak to dig a cavity on the old branches of the fig/mukuyu tree. Because of this, Zambian Barbet has a very special relationship with the mukuyu tree. In addition to nesting in the mukuyu tree, it also feeds on the fruits of this tree, of course in addition to other fruits, insects and leaves of tree such as the Acacia.
The Zambian Barbets' breeding season stretches from August through November.
The hen usually lays between 2 to 4 eggs that are incubated for 13 - 15 days. Nesting duties are shared by both parents. Their nests are sometimes parasitized by Lesser Honeyguides (Indicator minor) - which lay their eggs into the Zambian Barbets' nests for them to incubate and raise the young as their own.
Lastly, although this bird is only found in Zambia, it's distribution is restricted to specific areas of the country where the vegetation, temperature and altitude are just right!
SOURCES: BirdWatch Zambia
The Tawney Eagle is one of the 43 raptor species that breed in Zambia, and is closely associated with the presence of larger mammals.
Carmine Bee-eater
Lilac-breasted Roller
The Bateleur Eagle which takes its name from the French word meaning 'tightrope walker'. The bird rocks slowly from side to side in flight like the tightrope walker's balancing pole.
The Malachite Kingfisher from its perch on a river bank reed, becomes a flash of colour as it dives to catch a tiny fish.
A vulture flies in to join others feeding on a abandoned carcass of a dead lechwe. It may be as little as twenty minutes before nothing is left but skin and bones.
The African Spoonbill feeds in lagoons, sweeping the flattened end of its bill through the water in search of prey.
As the annual dry season advances, shorelines recede and many bodies of water dry up completely. In such an environment, birds must have good powers of flight to allow them to migrate as conditions change. African Spoonbills fly in formation with strong wind beats.
The Crowned Crane is one of Zambia's most ornate birds: its size makes it conspicuous and its voice is memorable. Its strong holds are the dambos and flood plains of the Kafue, the Luangwa valley and Bangweulu.
The cactus-like Euphorbia tree, whose thorn bearing Stems contains a poisonous latex, is commonlt used by birds of prey in which to build their nests. Here a brown Snake Eagle takes flight from its prickly home.
The Pink-backed Pelican is associated with the major wetlands. The swamps of Mweru, wantipa, Bangweulu, Leukanga, the Barotse flood plain and the Kafue flats harbour large concentrations of aquatic birds. One of the most exciting spectacles involving water birds are the fishing parties which take place as the dry season causes the water to recede, trapping thousands of fish in the mud. Dozens of saddle bills , maribou and yellow billed storks all eat their fill; but when the pelicans decend, sometimes in their hundreds, the party is over. Pelicans are also at home in the air and flocks soar effortlessly on thermals, can weigh up to seven kilogrammes.
The African Fish Eagle is Zambia's national bird, dressed in its multiracial plumage of black, brown and white. Its haunting cry is broadcast on the radio, and it is depicted on the Zambian flag and coat of arms as well as on the postage stamps. Fish eagles choose one mate for life, and partners are frequently heard calling for each other down the length of a river valley.
Sandpiper
Long Tailed Starling
Crowned Plover
Great Blue-eared Starling
Crested Barbet
Gaboon Nightjar
Black-collared Barbet
Crimmson-breasted Boubou
A Great White Egret rests in the security of a drowned tree. During the 20th century many dams have been constructed and the reservoirs are now frequented by a variety of water birds.
The Goliath Heron stands 1.5 meters tall and has a bill measuring upto 20 centimeters in length. Its long legs allow it to feed in deeper water than other Zambian herons.
