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November · Southern hemisphere

Birds to see in November in the southern hemisphere

It's full spring: many birds are breeding, males show off their colors and sing more than ever, and the birds that come to spend the summer here arrive from the north.

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  1. Barn swallow (Hirundo rustica)
    Photo: Andreas Trepte · CC BY-SA 2.5

    Fields · Wetland

    Barn swallow

    Hirundo rustica

    Glossy blue back, reddish forehead and throat, and a tail with two long streamers.

    By November they have arrived from the northern hemisphere in South Africa, Argentina and other southern countries, where they spend the summer without breeding. At dusk thousands gather in reed beds to roost.

  2. European bee-eater (Merops apiaster)
    Photo: El Golli Mohamed · CC BY-SA 4.0

    Fields

    European bee-eater

    Merops apiaster

    Yellow, turquoise and chestnut, with a black mask and a long, curved bill. Its call is a rolling "prrrup" you hear as it flies high.

    In southern Africa there are two groups: some arrive from Europe to spend the southern summer and others breed right there, in sandy banks.

  3. Southern masked weaver (Ploceus velatus)
    Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0

    Garden · Wetland

    Southern masked weaver

    Ploceus velatus

    The male is bright yellow with a black mask and a red eye; the female is duller.

    In spring males weave hanging grass nests on branches over water, and pull them apart and start again if they don't win over the female.

  4. Southern red bishop (Euplectes orix)
    Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0

    Wetland · Fields

    Southern red bishop

    Euplectes orix

    In the breeding season the male is bright red and black; outside it, brown like a sparrow.

    Between October and January males puff up their feathers on top of the reeds to show off. They're hard to miss.

  5. Rufous hornero (Furnarius rufus)
    Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0

    Park · Fields

    Rufous hornero

    Furnarius rufus

    Reddish brown above and pale below. It walks on the ground with a firm stride and sings in a duet with its mate.

    It's Argentina's national bird. In spring it builds its oven-shaped mud nest on posts, branches and street lamps.

  6. Great kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus)
    Photo: Rhododendrites · CC BY-SA 4.0

    Park · Wetland

    Great kiskadee

    Pitangus sulphuratus

    Bright yellow belly, a black head with a white eyebrow and a strong black bill. Its call sounds like "kis-ka-dee".

    It's very common in parks and near water, and sometimes plunges into the water after small fish, like a kingfisher.

  7. Rufous-collared sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis)
    Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0

    Garden · Park

    Rufous-collared sparrow

    Zonotrichia capensis

    A sparrow with a small crest, a grey head with black stripes and a cinnamon collar.

    Its short, whistled song is heard in cities and fields across most of South America, and more than ever in spring.

  8. Laughing kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)
    Photo: Paulweberphoto · CC BY 4.0

    Park · Woodland

    Laughing kookaburra

    Dacelo novaeguineae

    A large brown and white kingfisher with a dark eye mask and a huge bill.

    Its chorus of "laughter" rings out at dawn and dusk in eastern Australia. In spring it nests in tree hollows.

  9. Superb fairywren (Malurus cyaneus)
    Photo: JJ Harrison · CC BY-SA 4.0

    Garden · Park

    Superb fairywren

    Malurus cyaneus

    The breeding male is electric blue and black, with a long, cocked tail; females are brown.

    It lives in family groups in gardens and scrub in south-eastern Australia, and in spring males show their brightest blue.

  10. Australian magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen)
    Photo: JJ Harrison · CC BY-SA 3.0

    Park · Fields

    Australian magpie

    Gymnorhina tibicen

    Black and white, with reddish eyes and a flute-like, very musical song.

    Between August and November some males defend the nest by swooping at people who pass close by. It's best to take a detour and keep away from the nest.

  11. Sacred kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus)
    Photo: JJ Harrison · CC BY-SA 3.0

    Woodland · Wetland

    Sacred kingfisher

    Todiramphus sanctus

    Small, turquoise above and cream below, with a pale collar.

    In spring it arrives in southern Australia from the north to breed. It hunts lizards and insects more than fish.

  12. Welcome swallow (Hirundo neoxena)
    Photo: JJ Harrison · CC BY-SA 3.0

    Fields · Wetland

    Welcome swallow

    Hirundo neoxena

    Metallic blue, with a reddish forehead and throat and no dark band on the breast.

    It breeds in spring under eaves, bridges and sheds in Australia and New Zealand.

  13. Tūī (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae)
    Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0

    Garden · Woodland

    Tūī

    Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae

    It looks black, but it shines green and blue, and has two white tufts at the throat.

    In New Zealand it sings in spring, mixing notes, clicks and sounds the human ear can barely catch. It loves flower nectar.

Which one is in front of you?

Take a photo or let Ornavia listen to its song. It shows you the five birds that look and sound most alike, each with its photo, so you can compare and decide. It works offline, even out in the field.

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Back to Ornavia

Ornavia helps you get to know birds, but it can make mistakes. Always watch birds without disturbing them, especially near their nests, and don't call them with recordings.