A description of the birds inhabiting the south of Africa

Abstract

This instalment of "A Description of the Birds inhabiting the South of Africa" continues a detailed taxonomic and descriptive account of several South African raptor species, primarily within the genera Accipiter and Falco. The work provides new, comprehensive descriptions of five species of Accipiter and five species of Falco, including detailed observations of differences in size, colouration, and morphological features between adult males, females, and juvenile specimens.

Species covered include Accipiter Gabar, Accipiter Minullus, Accipiter Tachiro, Accipiter Melanoleucus, and Accipiter Rufiventris, along with Falco Frontalis, Falco Rupicolis, Falco Chiqueroides, and Falco Peregrinoides. The descriptions incorporate measurements, soft-part colours (bill, cere, eyes, legs, claws), and precise accounts of plumage patterns (e.g., barring, spotting, striping) for various age/sex classes.

A significant feature of this work is the author's critical comparison of his field observations against previous descriptions by prominent naturalists, notably Le Vaillant. The author frequently dissents from Le Vaillant's identifications of juvenile specimens as adult birds or distinct species, providing evidence to support his own conclusions regarding age-related plumage variation (e.g., for A. Minullus and A. Tachiro). The text also includes brief ecological notes on habitat, diet (e.g., small birds, grasshoppers, fish), and nesting habits for several of the documented species