Abyssinian Long-Claw (Macronyx Flavicollis) wing 83-95 mm

The Abyssinain Long-Claw very similar in both appearance and behavior to the Yellow-throated long-claw (Macronyx croceus) of other parts of Africa – is a common grassland bird of the western and south eastern highlands except in the extreme north where it does not occur. Like other longclaws, this Ethiopian endemic inhabits grasslands and has plumage markings similar to those of meadowlarks of North and South America (passerine birds that are not related to long-claws). The Abyssinian Long-Clawoccurs largley between 1200 and 3050 meters (4000-10,000 feet)but occasionally reaches the grassland moorlands up to 4100 meters (13,500 feet); it is most common between 1800 and 2750 meters (6000-9000 feet). Living singly or in pairs, this long-claw is usually seen sitting on a lump of dirt, a rock, a small bush or a fence. Its black necklace and salfron throat and neck are especially obvious when it sits. Considered to be “tame and friendly, when breeding it nests in February, June, July and August. Its nest is a cuplike structure raised slightly above the ground and lined with various grass fibres. The eggs, two or three in number, are glossy, pale greenish-white and flecked with dull brown. It makes “a clear trilling little song from a perch or on the wing, and a piping call note.”

White – Tailed Swallow (Hirundo megaensis) Wing 100-105 mm

The White-tailed Swallow was first introduced to science in 1942 when C.W. Benson reported them in southern Ethiopia from Yabello to Mega in short grass savana with small acacia thorn bush. This endemic related to the Pied-winged Swallow (Hirundo Leucosoma) of Western Africa and the Pearl-breasted Swallow (H. dimidiata) of southern Africa, is common but restricted to an area of about 4850 square kilometers (3000 square miles) between 1200 and 1350 meters (400-4500 feet). This restriction has baffled scientists because there is no obvious explanation, particularly no natural barriers or boundaries which mark off the area, for such a limited distribution. In recent years there have been reports of the swallow in the Addis Ababa area, Studies of this species in the future may show that its distribution is not so limited as thought.

The species is unique among swallows in having the greater part of the tail white; the white is very conspicuous in flight. The White-tailed Swallow is thought to be a sedentary species, remaining mainly in its home range. It is not associated with human habitation. C.W. Benson suggested that this swallow may build its nest in January and February in holes in the tall chimney-shaped ant hills common in the area. The nest, however, has not been discovered

Spot – Breasted Plover (Vanellus melanoceplialus) wing 234-240 mm

The Spot-breasted Plover is an endemic usually found above 3050 meters (10.000 feet) in marshy grassland and moorlands with giant health, giant lobelia, alchemilla and tussock grass in both the western and southeastern highlands. Widely distributed but locally common, the plover usually is seen in pairs or in small parties, or in the non breedings season in small flocks of up to 30-40 individuals Its behavior has been compared with that of the Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) of Europe: it is a relatively tame, noisy bird with a swerving flight; on the ground it makes short runs and sudden stops. When calling, it produces a “kree-kreekre-krep-krep-kreep Kreep”, a “kueeecp-kuecp” and the cry “pewit.pewit”. It is distinguished from other plovers by having fleshy wattles in front of the eyes and by the breast spotted with black.

Hardly anything is known about this plover. For example, the nest and eggs have only recently been described; the nest, a shallow scrape within a patch of grass and moss in the giant lobelia moorlands with small lakes, contained four eggs that were brownish-blue to smoke-grey and heavily marked with black. The plover is known to breed in April in the Bale Mountains and in August in Shoa Region. Other aspects of its life history are unrecorded. Although locally

Prince RruspoI’s Turaco (Turaco ruspolii) wing 180-184 mm

Prince Ruspoli’s Turaco is known in the literature from two areas in southern Ethiopia in juniper forests with dense evergreen undergrowth: one is at Arero (4048’N, 38°50’E) and the other 80 kilometers north of Neghelli (5°40’N, 39°20’E); both localities are 1800 meters (6000 feet) in elevation. This turaco was first introduced to science when Prince Ruspoli collected it in either 1892 or 1893. Since prince Ruspoli, an Italian explorer, was killed in an “encounter with an elephant” in the Lake Abya area and unfortunately did not leave any notes about his travels, the locality and date of collection of the first specimen of this turaco remain unknown. His Collection was studied by T. Salvadori in 1896 who named the new turaco in honor of Prince Ruspoli. In subsequent years several other explores searched for the turaco; noge were successful until the early 1940’s when several specimens were obtained in the Arero forest. After these specimens were obtained, the turaco was not reported again until very recently, in the last five years, when sever. have been see and four collected at the locality north of Neghelli. This turaco is considered to be an endangered species and is included in the “Red Book” of endangered animals of the world. However, recent sightings in juniper forests and especially in dry water courses which include figs, the rubiaceous tree, Adina, and undergrowth of acacia and Teclea shrubs, suggest that the species may be more common than thought.

There are no breeding records nor any recorded observations on the nesting activities of Prince Ruspoli’s Turaco; its nest and eggs are unknown. It has been reported to feed on fruits of Teclea and Adina. Its call has been described as a low “chirr-cha” and a short “te”.