GREATER PAINTED-SNIPE
Rostratula benghalensis
A: Goudsnip
A rather sparse resident. Nowhere common, but they do have a few reliable spots for them: Marievale Bird Sanctuary, Kgomo-Kgomo and Nylsvlei NR. This is an interesting species, as it is polyandrous – meaning the males hatch the eggs, and rear the chicks. The female is also the more attractively coloured of the sexes. Recently, I came across 4 individuals in Vaalpark, Free State, a locality I would never have guessed they would show at!