Monday, April 6, 2020

Angola Bird stamps

Angola is one of the most exciting and least visited birding countries in Africa. Angola has a multitude of habitats: deserts in the south-west; arid savannas in the south; mountains in the west, with associated Afromontane forests and grasslands; tropical lowland forest in the north and Cabinda; sub-montane forest along the escarpment, and vast areas of broadleaved Miombo woodlands over most of the east.

 It has a bird list of more than nine hundred and twenty species but there has been little ornithological activity for some thirty years. Sadly, a long running war and political instability have impacted habitat adversely as well as limiting opportunities for visiting birders. However, the war ended now with high opportunities for birding.

 Angola has a host of endemic and near-endemic species to attract ornithologists, birdwatchers and listers alike. Many of the near endemic species such as Ruppell’s Bustard Eupodotis rueppellii, Ruppell’s Parrot Poicephalus ruepellii, Rosy-faced Lovebird Agapornis roseicollis, Bradfield’s Swift Apus bradfieldi, Violet Wood-hoopoe Phoeniculus damarensis, Monteiro’s Hornbill Tockus monteiri, Gray’s Lark Ammomanopsis grayi, Benguela Long-billed Lark Certhilauda benguelensis, Carp’s Tit Parus carpi,  Bare-cheeked Babbler Turdoides gymnogenys and White-tailed Shrike Lanioturdus torquatus are easier to see and simpler logistically in Namibia.

 Number of species: 1008 
 Number of endemics: 14
 Number of introduced species: 1   Location: Southern Africa Climate: semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season and hot, rainy season Terrain: narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau .


There are total approx 250 stamps published by Angola .



 2.50a  African Skimmer  Rynchops flavirostris 

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