Grey Go-Away Bird

Kwevoel

Corythaixoides Concolor

Records: †1347 ( as at 27/2/2005 )

 

Drafted by: Bryan Groom

1st Reviewer: Etienne Marais

Draft Text Last Updated: 27th May 2005

2nd Reviewer: Faansie Peacock 14 June 2005

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Distribution: The species is abundant throughout the region, and is regularly recorded at Borakolalo; Buffelsdrift & Seringveld Conservancies; Dikhololo; Ezemvelo; Kgomo-Kgomo;† Rietvlei NR; Suikerbosrand NR to name but a few. The bird is very common in suburbia. Birds in the PCC/BiG region belong to the subspecies C. c. bechuanae.

†

Gaps in Knowledge: Records of distribution within the southern, south western and south eastern areas of the region are few.

†

Habitat: Thornveld and dry open woodland. The species has adapted well in the wooded suburban gardens of the highveld, which it first invaded in the late 1970ís. †Itís move southwards may be linked to the increase in tree cover, especially fruit trees, and in particular the Seringa Melia azedarach, of which this Grey Go-away-bird in an important seed dispersal agent (SABAP 1: 542).

 

Status and movements: The species is an abundant breeding resident in the region, and is recorded throughout the year. Some flocking behaviour has been recorded in winter (see Population).

 

Population: Whilst the bird is recorded regularly, there are no figures of population densities in the region. Normally present in pairs or in small family groups, but a flock of 32 birds was observed at the Pretoria National Botanical Gardens on 05 May 2005 (S. Byron, P. Olivier).

 

Conservation: This bird has long been regarded as a bushveld species, but in the gardens and parks of the region, has become confiding and very tolerant of human activity. This bird appears to be present in all the recognised conservation areas of the region. The co-dependence of the alien vegetation on the bird for seed dispersal, and the birds on the plants for food, closely tie population sizes of Grey Go-away-birds to the distribution of alien vegetation. Vegetation eradication attempts could reduce Go-away-bird numbers to some extent.

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