That quote proved true when I told Zwane, our iMfolosi trail guide, the Zulus’ name for the Gymnogene/Harrier Hawk (Roberts 169). Literally translated, it means “the bird that has sex with trees.” (A very rude word – Roberts has no record of it!).
The description is apt, as it defines the bird’s feeding action of raiding woodpecker and barbet nests, hanging on to a tree with one talon, and digging in a nest hole with the other. Later, Zwane went out of his way to please us, showing us a hyena lair which was out of bounds to trailists. When I see him, he wags his finger, and still laughs about the harrier’s Zulu depiction.
Surprisingly, most Zulu guides use the English bird names, but they’re enjoying an isiZulu bird list I managed to locate from WESSA for them. Another bird named after its habit of ‘running’ away through the treetops, is iGwalagwala (coward), the Purplecrested Turaco/Loerie (Roberts 371).
Many other KZN birds are named after their calls, such as isiNkhulukhulu – Black Collared Barbet (Roberts 464); isiKhwehle – Crested Francolin (Roberts 189); iNkankane – Hadeda Ibis (Roberts 94), which are all onomatopoeic (surfers, get your dictionaries out). iNhlekhabafazi (the laughter of women) describes the call of the Redbilled Woodhoopoe (Roberts 452) to a T.
I recently learned that the Glossy Starling (Roberts 764) is an iKhwezi in isiZulu, which means ‘morning star’, obviously illustrating its bright golden eye on a dark shimmering background. The Zulu language is certainly one of sights and sounds!
Last week, my wife told me my teeth were like stars. I was quite touched, until she said it was because they came out at night. I have no idea why I told you this, but it might explain why I spend so much time birdwatching.
