Eastern Nicator

by Johan van der Walt


Eastern Nicator (Previously called – Yellow-spottted Nicator)
Geelvleknikator
Nicator gularis
 
 
This Eastern Nicator made my day when I spotted it on a recent birding trip to the Kruger National Park where it was foraging in the underbrush and thickets. I first recorded this bird when it was still called Yellow-spotted Nicator. I liked the name as it is quite an apt description of the bird. During this recent trip at Punda Maria, I spotted the bird now going by its new name – Eastern Nicator – and thus it is sort of also a first. The beautiful call of this bird is quite striking. 
 
The Eastern Nicator, with its heavy bill and curved tip almost like a shrike, could possibly be closer to the shrikes as to the Bulbuls.
 
 
Johan vd Walt
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