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African Finfoot | Podica senegalensis

The African Finfoot is a Southern African bird that belongs to the Heliornithidae bird family group which includes birds such as Heliornithidae.

The description for the African Finfoot (Latin name Podica senegalensis) can be found in the 7th Edition of the Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. The Podica senegalensis can be quickly identified by its unique Roberts identification number of 229 and the detailed description of this bird is on page 314. You will find a picture of the African Finfoot on page 305.

NOTE: The reference for the information following is "Roberts Birds of Southern Africa", 7th Edition*. This edition contained a number of taxonomic changes as well as changes to English names used traditionally and in earlier editions of most bird books in South Africa. The following paragraph notes such changes if any.

There have been no changes in the common name between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition. There have been no changes in the Latin name for the African Finfoot between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition

The African Finfoot is known in Afrikaans as Watertrapper.

The African Finfoot has a height of 65 cms and weighs around 650 gms. The head is coloured black while the bill is coloured red. The Podica senegalensis has a white coloured throat, grey legs and a brown coloured back. The eyes are brown.

The male Podica senegalensis has physical features that are slightly different from the female bird.

Take note of the main distinguishing features such as colour, size and leg length relative to the body size. Colours of body parts can be helpful. Be aware what may appear brown to one person is described in Roberts using some other word ... for example brown, black. See colours used in Roberts.

Head is black

Eyes are brown

Bill is red

Legs are grey

Throat is white

Back is brown

Feeding Habits ...

This bird forages for food on the ground

This bird has a specially adapted bill which helps it hunt for fish, crabs, shrimp and other aquatic animals in the water.

This bird eats insects such as butterflies, bees, wasps, locusts and ants. These invertebrates are usually hawked aerially, killed and then eaten .

Breeding, Habitat and Nesting Habits ...

The African Finfoot is a monogamous bird which means that the bird finds and breeds with one partner for the rest of its life. The bird lays between 1 to 3 eggs and they are coloured brown.

The nest is built high up in the tree canopy and is protected from predators by branches and the dense green foligae.

The African Finfoot is found in the Southern African wetlands, riverine forests and moist grasslands.

The bird is at home in riverine forests and close to water bodies such as lakes, dams and streams

Seen in Flocks, Singles or Pairs Normally ...

The African Finfoot is mainly seen singly or in pairs in the wild.

The reference for the information following is "Roberts Birds of Southern Africa", 7th Edition * edited by PAR Hockey, WRJ Dean and PG Ryan, published by "The Trustees of the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund."