Birds of South Africa | Colour-in Activity

Posted on July 29, 2020

Birds of Southern Africa

Here at labels4school we are passionate about the wildlife that surrounds us here in South Africa, we are proud to call this continent home and as such we have designed a stunning range of South African wildlife themed labels. We have created a beautiful bird theme with all sorts of birds, from the stunning lilac-breasted roller to the majestic southern yellow-billed hornbill.

Free to download colour in birds are entertainment for all ages and come with a short educational description about each bird.

The Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

The southern yellow-billed hornbill is a medium sized bird found in all areas of Southern Africa, it likes to live in scrub and acacia woodlands. You will notice its very large, downwardly curved yellow beak first, then the pink skin around its eyes. It has white feathers on the belly and grey feathers on the neck with the back and wing feathers being speckled with black and white. The yellow-billed hornbill is an omnivorous bird, meaning it will eat all sorts of things from spiders and lizards to fruits and nuts. It likes to find its food on the floor and likes to live in groups with other hornbills.

Southern Double Collard Sunbird

The southern double collard sunbird is a tiny bird that lives in gardens, fynbos, forest and coastal scrub. The Male of the species has a bright metallic green head and throat and a tan underside, you will notice the bright red band across his chest first, this is separated from the green by a narrow blue band. The female of the species is tan and brown and far less noticeable. The southern double collard sunbird uses it thin curved beak to feeds mainly on the nectar from tubular flowers. You will often see these tiny birds traveling in pairs as they hop from plant to plant looking for nectar.

Helmeted Guineafowl

The helmeted guineafowl is a medium sized ground bird that lives across South Africa from the grassy fields of the Kruger National park to the city streets of Cape Town, forming flocks of close to 25 birds. These birds have round gray-black spangles bodies and small featherless heads decorated with a brown bony knob (helmet), they also have red and blue flaps on their face. These birds prefer to walk rather than fly, spending most of their day scratching in the grass and soils for everything from insects and snails to seeds and fruits.

White-fronted bee-eater

The white-fronted bee-eater is a small brightly coloured bird that lives in Savanah and open country sides near gullies, these little birds form colonies of 200 or so members, nesting in holes dug into cliffs and banks. The white fronted bee-eater is a slender bird with a black mask, white forehead and a bright read throat. You will often see them perched in a low branch waiting for insects or bee’s, which they will swoop down and snatch mid-flight.

Knysna lourie

The Knysna turaco (lourie) is a large bird that lives in the trees and forests of Knysna and along the garden route of South Africa. You will often see them hopping from branch to branch where the magnificent red underwing stands out against their green body feathers. The Knysna turaco has a green crest with a white tip and a white stripe under its eyes, the beak is small, hooked and red. The small hooked beak helps the Knysna turaco eat nuts, seeds, fruit and small insects. These birds can be seen in either a group or by themselves.

Lilac-breasted roller

The Lilac-breasted roller is a small bird found across Southern Africa from Botswana to Northeastern South Africa and Namibia, you will find this beautifully coloured bird in open woodlands and savanna with scattered trees and bush. The lilac-breasted roller sits on the highest branches of trees, watching for insects, lizards and scorpions. You will often find these birds in pairs, protecting their nest and chicks from predators. The lilac-breasted roller gets its name from the large lilac band across its chest, this is complemented by the bright turquoise and blue colouring of its wings and body.