Southern Black Tit (Melaniparus niger)
A large, active, noisy black tit with white shoulders, white edgings to the wing feathers, and a barred gray-and-white undertail. Pairs and small groups form the core of mixed-species feeding flocks in broadleaf woodland and thorn scrub. The species is often detected by its noisy buzzing and chirping vocalizations, including a sweet-and-scratchy diddy-dzee-dzee-dzee-dzee-dzee. The very similar Carp’s Tit is black under the tail; ranges only narrowly overlap.
Very much at home, a rare opportunity to photograph, tricky birds flying around through dense bush, always looking out for wasps. We have plenty red little buggers that sting, or larger black wasps which don't bother us much, failing which many other insects to hawk on, also enjoy fruit and nectar when available.
Monogamous birds, measuring in at 16cm length I would refer to them as a small bird, South African population of species is around ten million leaving them comfortably on the least endangered listings.
Perhaps one of the 'larger' in tit species, still small in comparison to medium or much larger birds we encounter, wishing those who enjoy being outdoors looking to see life on the move a wonderful day.
All photography my own using Canon Powershot SX730 HS. Anything not properly identified please let me know in comments below. Now go out and have a wonderful day wherever you live in our wonderful world.
Thought for Today: "Don't admire the flying bird before you know the pain of flapping." - African Proverb
Thanks for visiting Feathered Friends, Entry to #SMAP No. 234 - Bird Contest with host @nelinoeva SMALL BIRDS THEME
by @barbara-orenya
