Birds from a South African Garden and Their Beautiful Legends

Birdwatching is a serene escape into the natural world, offering wonder through observing avian plumage, songs, and behaviors, not to mention discovering unique legends. Birdwatching fosters patience and mindfulness, reminding us of nature’s beauty in the Anthropocene era.

Discover the following garden birds making their nests in our back yard in Gauteng, South Africa: Cape Sparrow or Mossie, Southern Masked Weaver, Cape Glossy Starling, Cape-Turtle Dove, Laughing Dove, Karoo Thrush Bird, Tiptol Bird or Dark-Capped Bulbul, Crested Barbet, and Red-Head Barbet today.

Coming soon: Dark-capped bulbul, Grey Go-Away Bird (Lourie), Southern Boubou, Common Myna (Indian Myna), Hadeda Ibis, African Hoopoe, Red Billed Wood Hoopoe, Cape White-Eye, Thick-Billed Weaver, and more, as soon as they visit our garden.

Cape Sparrow or Mossie

A brightly colored little sparrow, 14-16 cm in height. The male has a distinctive black head

A Cape Sparrow is the symbol of love and forgiveness.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” (Matthew 10:29-31)

I took the video below in January 2024, in the middle of South African summer (there’s a piece of watermelon in the bird tray). This is a Cape Sparrow female (has a grey head).

A female masked weaver and a male Cape Sparrow – wait for the Sparrow’s return for a second bite! Summer, 2024:

Southern Masked Weaver, female and male (who is bright yellow only in summer)

They are 11–14.5 cm and have pinkish legs.

The Masked Weaver’s love story:

In a village where stories are alive and well, the Village Weaver’s story stands out as an incredible and captivating one. These brilliant yellow birds, dazzling like drops of sunlight, always steal the show. Their intricately woven nests dangle precariously over shimmering waters, a clever strategy to keep predators away from their young.

Males work tirelessly, like ancient artisans, to build these intricate homes. Once completed, they cling to their creations and perform a dedication dance to entice potential mates. If a female finds his nest lacking, she will destroy it, forcing the determined weaver to start over. As a result, the Village Weaver legend emerges as a testament to resilience, artistry, and the never-ending search for love.

May and June are the months when the Masked Weavers don’t breed. But as soon as their nests will decorate our garden I will add some new pictures.

Amazingly, it was observed that the nest design has changed, the entrance becoming longer and more tubular so the cuckoo bird will have less chances to deposit her egg inside the Masked Weaver’s nest, kicking out one of theirs. But the cuckoo’s behavior also changed, targeting more and more first-time Masked Weaver parents.

Cape Glossy Starling

At 25cm in length, the Cape Glossy Starlings has iridescent blue-green glossy feathers. What beauties:

Enigmatic Starling Murmurations of Ancient Rome:

Starlings were more than just curiosities or passing mentions in stories in ancient Rome; they were omens written across the sky. These birds, with their uncanny ability to form vast, elaborate migrating flocks known as murmurations, provided an awe-inspiring spectacle. Thousands of starlings would flock together, their synchronized movements forming an undulating, flowing mass that appeared to dance with the heavens.

The augurs, Rome’s revered diviners, would fix their gaze on these celestial displays, searching for messages from the gods. Some patterns predicted fortune and prosperity, while others warned of impending disaster. Thus, the legend of Rome’s starling murmurations lives on, a testament to the mystical connection between nature’s rhythms and the divine, as seen through the eyes of those who dared to read the sky.

Pigeons or Doves

Pigeons and doves are unusual birds because when two males compete for a female, they fight to the death. One of the male pigeons is always killed in the battle. In African folklore, pigeons were regarded as warbirds rather than peacebirds. Pigeons are also known as Ihobe, which means “the ambusher,” or the one who waits for an enemy. The dove was not a symbol of peace among ancient peoples living outside of Africa, such as the Sumerians and Babylonians. It represented Ishtar, a strange goddess who combined the elements of love and war.

Cape-Turtle Dove

They are greyish-brown in colour and have a black stripe around the neck, more visible at the back. The line looks like the bangles worn by African women as ornaments. Cape-Turtle doves are 27cm in length.

Laughing Dove

Pretty under sunlight, with pinkish brown feathers and lilac tinged head and neck they are 25cm in length.

As you probably guessed, the laughing dove’s name derives from its call: ha ha hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo.

Karoo Thrush

A lovely plump bird.

The Karoo Thrush is identifiable by the rusty coloration restricted to the center of her belly. It reaches about 24cm in length.

These birds are usually the first to start singing as first light appears in the morning.

Their vibrant orange beaks, large brown eyes encircled by an orange ring, and their trusting gazes captivated us with their charm.

A Karoo Thrush bird from South Africa taking a morning bath on a cold winter’s day:

A Karoo Thrush eating avocado and cleaning its beak. Wonderful table manners:

The Thrush bird is associated with healing and rebirth. It is said that if you dream of Thrush you will be healed of whatever ailment bothers you.

Tiptol Bird or Dark-Capped Bulbul

At 18cm length, its characteristic is the distinctive dark head and pointy crest on top of the head (visible when upset). Not always easy to see is the attractive yellow feathers beneath their tails:

A Tiptol Bird (how we call them in South Africa) or Dark-Capped Bulbul enjoying his avocado:

Two Tiptol Birds or Dark-Capped Bulbuls arguing, one calls out, see its bright, red tongue:

In Persian poetry, the Bulbul is frequently depicted as a symbol of love, singing its heart out to the blooming rose.

Crested Barbet

Some of the most colorful birds I’ve spotted in our garden, the Crested Barbets are about 23cm in length.

A Crested Barbet enjoying his avocado snack:

Meet the “Fruit Salad Bird”. Locals affectionately call the Crested Barbet the “Fruit Salad Bird” due to its vibrant, mixed plumage and its love for fruit. Although primarily frugivorous, these birds are actually omnivorous, enjoying both plants and animals in their diet. However, fruit makes up the majority of their meals.

In many cultures, spotting a barbet or hearing its boisterous calls is seen as a good omen for predicting happy events like weddings, births, and celebrations. So barbets can represent the spirit of festivity, connection, and community.

Red-Head Barbet

Very interesting to discover that, although smaller in size, the Red-Head Barbets are not scared of larger birds. Here’s one who doesn’t want to share his food so he chases the pigeon, a Cape-Turtle Dove, away:

First the dove lands in the feeding tray.
Then the Red-Head Barbet chases the dove away (the dove returned later and had plenty more to eat).

One of the most prevalent symbolic meanings for the Barbet is happiness and celebration. These birds are exceptionally vocal, with calls resembling loud, boisterous laughter. Their noisy, merry chatter certainly brings delight.

This year we’ve been blessed with birds. It is winter now, so many of them are happy with the food we give them. Let’s see how this will change once spring is here.

Thank you for joining me in bird-watching.