A copy of this field guide is provided in every Animal Kingdom
Lodge Resort room.
| Mammals |
| |
ANKOLE CATTLE
Identification pointers:
Stocky, reddish-brown
cattle.
Enormous horns.
Horns
present in males and females.
Behaviour tip:
The smooth round horns of this domesticated cattle will help
you distinguish it from the wild hoofstock that it coexists
with on the African savanna. |
| |
BONGO
Identification pointers:
A large antelope with
a bright chestnut-red color.
White vertical
stripes on the body.
Both males and females
have lyre-shaped horns which spiral in one complete twist.
Behavior tip:
Don't be alarmed if you see shadows on the savanna at night.
It could just be the shy, forest dwelling bongo browsing in
the moonlight. |
| |
BLESBOK
Identification pointers:
Medium-sized antelope
with a dark glossy brown coat.
White blaze on
face.
Males and females carry ridged lyre-shaped
horns.
Behavior tip:
Keep a lookout in the open savanna areas for the courtship displays
of the male blesbok, which include a low stretch of the neck
and courtship-circling. |
| |
ELAND
Identification pointers:
Largest antelope on
the savanna.
Straight spiral horns and a tan
to tawny grey coat.
A fold of loose skin, called
the dewlap, hangs from the male's chest.
Behavior tip:
If you are very quiet you may be able to hear the castanet-like
clicking of the adult male eland's knee tendons. |
| |
GEMSBOK
Identification pointers:
Large antelope with
extremely long spear-shaped horns on males and females.
Black and white facial markings with a gray to tan
body.
Level back, short neck, deep chest and
long legs.
Behavior tip:
The gemsbok often stand or lie down in a circle facing out.
This survival strategy, called a 'star formation' or an 'alert
circle' provides the herd with a panoramic view while watching
for approaching predators. |
| |
GRANT'S ZEBRA
Identification pointers:
Bold black and white
stripes.
The only member of the horse family
found on the reserve.
Brush-like mane.
Behavior tip:
Watch and listen for the communications of the zebra. You may
see different facial expressions, ear positions and social grooming
or you may hear a variety of vocalizations, including barks. |
| |
GREATER KUDU
Identification pointers:
A large antelope with
very large corkscrew-shaped horns on the male.
A
gray-brown coat with white stripes on sides.
Big
ears.
Behavior tip:
In bachelor groups of kudu, the biggest male with the largest
horns is usually dominant. Watch the herd and try to find the
kudu 'boss' out on the reserve. |
| |
IMPALA
Identification pointers:
Medium-sized gazelle
with reddish-brown coat.
Black detailing on the rump, ear tips, and hair tufts on back
of legs.
Ridged, lyre-shaped horns on males only.
Behavior tip:
"Air Gazelle!" Be on the lookout
for the impala's spectacular leaps, as high as 10 feet! |
| |
RETICULATED GIRAFFE
Identification pointers:
Tallest animal on earth
at heights of 15-20 feet.
Patches of tan separated
by a network of white lines.
Tail ends in a
long tassel of black coarse hair.
Behavior tip:
Are they walking in "slow motion"? Actually, the graceful
gait of the giraffe is amazingly rapid and involves swinging
the two legs on the same side of the body forward at almost
the same time. |
| |
THOMSON'S GAZELLE "Tommies"
Identification pointers:
Smallest gazelle on
the savanna.
Cinnamon brown coat with
a sporty black racing stripe.
Males have
curved, ringed horns and females have pencil-thin horns.
Behavior tip:
What was that blur? It could have been a tiny "tommy."
They have the ability to run up to 80 kilometers per hour (50mph)! |
| |
WATERBUCK
Identification pointers:
Large antelope with
a brown, shaggy coat.
White blaze on rump.
Males have ringed forward-swept horns.
Behavior tip:
You won't see the waterbuck venturing too far away from the
waterhole. True to their name, these are the most water-dependent
of all antelopes and need to drink daily. |
| |
WHITE-BEARDED WILDEBEEST
Identification pointers:
Large grey antelope
with a black face.
Large, impressive, upward-turned
horns on males and females.
Sloping shape -
taller at shoulder than at rump,
Behavior tip:
At night you may observe the wildebeest sleeping in rows, which
offers the security of a group while allowing each individual
a quick getaway in case of danger. |
| Birds |
| |
ABYSSINIAN GROUND HORNBILL
Identification pointers:
Black turkey-sized
bird.
Large black bill with a "horn-like"
projection on top.
Inflatable dark blue throat
pouch.
Behavior tip:
Observe these entertainers of the savanna tossing around sticks
and clumps of grass and mud. At night, listen for their deep
call notes to serenade you to sleep. |
| |
BLUE CRANE
(National Bird of the Republic of South Africa)
Identification pointers:
Very tall bluish gray
bird.
Elongated inner wing feathers.
Long
slender neck.
Behavior tip:
If romance is on the air you may witness the blue crane's elaborate
courtship "dance," which can last for up to four hours! |
| |
EAST AFRICAN CROWNED CRANE
Identification pointers:
Grey and white crane
easily identified by its golden, brush-like crown of feathers.
A rosy pink wattle hangs from the throat.
The beak, legs and feet are black.
Behavior tip:
You may hear the crowned cranes utter a variety of vocalizations,
from a lowpurr while feeding to a loud "ka-wonk" warning
call. |
| |
GREATER FLAMINGO
Identification pointers:
Think pink!
Curved
pink bill with black tip.
Very long legs and
neck.
Behavior tip:
One of the most amazing sights of nature is the social displays
of a flock of flamingos, which involves a series of synchronized
movements. (Learn more about "their moves" from the
Savanna Guides). |
| |
MARABOU STORK
Identification pointers:
A large grey and white
stork.
Bald head and neck.
Massive
bill.
Behavior tip:
Although not known as "the beauty" of the savanna,
the Marabou stork exhibits a behavior to make it attractive
to other Marabou storks. Males and females can be seen inflating
and deflating the large throat pouch on their necks as a courtship
display. |
| |
OSTRICH
Identification pointers:
The world's largest
bird at 2m (6-7 feet).
Females have light brown
plumage.
Two-toed hoof-like feet.
Behavior tip:
Contrary to popular belief you will not see the ostrich sticking
its head in the sand. In reality, when alarmed, an ostrich will
stand up straight and tall and use its keen eyesight to scan
the horizon for any approaching danger. |
| |
PINK-BACK PELICAN
Identification pointers:
Large grey bird with
pink back and rump (color becomes more vivid during breeding
season).
Bill has a large pouch that holds more
than its stomach.
Legs may be gray, yellow or
red.
Behavior tip:
Are those pelicans panting? Absolutely! To cool off pelicans
will "pant" by fluttering their throat puches. |
| |
RUPPEL'S GRIFFON VULTURE
Identification pointers:
One of the largest
vultures with a wingspan of 2.4m (8ft).
Scaled
feather pattern.
Bald-looking head and neck
covered in short tiny feathers.
Behavior tip:
True sun-worshippers, Ruppel's vultures can often be seen spreading
their wings to sunbathe. The breeze that flows through their
wings cools their body temperature and also dries food particles
on their feathers. |
