Species List
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Wing Shooting Species List – South Africa
South Africa offers outstanding wing shooting across waterfowl, upland birds and high-volume crop shoots. Use this species list to plan your Wing Shooting Safaris South Africa trip. Explore typical habitats, prime months, methods, and kit tips for each bird.
Hunting Statistics
- Length: 28–31 cm (11–12 in)
- Weight: 150–200 g (5–7 oz)
- Habitat: Open savanna/thornveld, riverine bush and crop fields; gathers on stubble and at water in the dry season.
- Behavior/Flight: Strong, straight flyers in singles or pairs; peak movement early mornings and late afternoons—excellent over field edges and water points.
- Distinguishing Features: Pale grey head with pinkish underparts, black “mourning” half-collar on the neck, red eye-ring, and long tail with white edges.
Hunting Statistics
- Length: 28–32 cm (11–12.5 in)
- Weight: 160–230 g (5.6–8.1 oz)
- Habitat: Semi-arid savanna and sandy plains with scattered shrubs; drinks at open pans and troughs.
- Behavior/Flight: Flocks travel to water shortly after sunrise (and late afternoon); swift, direct flyers in tight waves on set flightlines.
- Distinguishing Features: Buff-rufous breast, intricately speckled back, bold yellow eye patch, and tapered tail.
Hunting Statistics
- Length: 38–42 cm (15–16.5 in)
- Weight: 600–900 g (1.3–2.0 lb)
- Habitat: Fynbos, scrub, wheatlands and vineyard margins; often near water and cover.
- Behavior/Flight: Moves in small coveys; prefers to run before flushing; explosive, direct flight just above the grass—best taken on walk-ups and drives.
- Distinguishing Features: Heavily barred/brown plumage with white chevrons, bright orange-red legs and bill, robust body and short tail.
Hunting Statistics
- Length: 44–48 cm (17–19 in)
- Weight: ~450–700 g (1.0–1.5 lb)
- Habitat: Shallow freshwater or brackish pans, marsh edges, floodplains and farm dams; often with Yellow-billed Duck and Red-billed Teal.
- Behavior/Flight: Crepuscular feeder; swings low over water, circles and drops to decoys in tight groups; wary on bright, still mornings.
- Distinguishing Features: Pale sandy-grey body with fine dark spotting, pale face, striking red eye, slate-grey bill, and iridescent green speculum.
Hunting Statistics
- Length: 26–32 cm (10–12.5 in)
- Weight: ~140–200 g (5–7 oz)
- Habitat: Open savanna, thornveld, farmlands and towns; congregates on stubble and at water in dry seasons.
- Behavior/Flight: Singles, pairs or loose flocks; strong, direct flyers with peak movement early morning and late afternoon along fixed routes.
- Distinguishing Features: Pale grey with a warm pinkish wash, bold black half-collar on the neck, scaly wing coverts and white outer tail corners flashing in flight.
Hunting Statistics
- Length: 16–18 cm (6.3–7.1 in)
- Weight: ~90–120 g (3–4 oz)
- Habitat: Rank grass, fallow and stubble fields, cereal crops and pasture edges—most reliable where cover is knee-high.
- Behavior/Flight: Singles or small parties; prefers to run before flushing; extremely brief, whirring flights just above the grass—best at first/last light.
- Distinguishing Features: Very small, rounded gamebird; warm brown, heavily streaked upperparts; buff breast; bold facial stripes with pale supercilium; short wings.
Hunting Statistics
- Length: 23–25 cm (9–10 in)
- Weight: ~120–180 g (4–6 oz)
- Habitat: Dry savanna and thornveld with knee-high grass, mopane/Acacia edges, stubble and field margins.
- Behavior/Flight: Singles, pairs or small family groups; often runs before flushing; very brief, fast flights just above the grass—best at first/last light.
- Distinguishing Features: Small, compact francolin with rufous head/neck, bold black-and-white barred chest and flanks, finely patterned brown upperparts, yellow bill and legs.
Hunting Statistics
- Length: 30–34 cm (12–13.5 in)
- Weight: ~300–500 g (0.7–1.1 lb)
- Habitat: Dry woodland/Acacia thornveld, mopane edges, stubble and field margins; feeds on seeds and insects on the ground.
- Behavior/Flight: Pairs or family coveys; often runs before flushing; explosive, whirring flights just above the grass; loud antiphonal dawn calls reveal territories.
- Distinguishing Features: Warm rufous-brown upperparts boldly spotted and streaked white, buff underparts, bold white eyebrow and throat with dark border, small crest, and pinkish-red legs.
Hunting Statistics
- Length: 25–28 cm (10–11 in)
- Weight: ~140–200 g (5–7 oz)
- Habitat: Arid savanna and sandy plains with scattered shrubs; feeds on seeds, drinks at open pans and troughs.
- Behavior/Flight: Flocks commute to water shortly after sunrise and again near sunset; swift, direct flyers that skim low over the ground on fixed routes.
- Distinguishing Features: Compact, cryptically patterned bird with mottled sandy-brown back, bold yellow eye-ring/patch, and the male shows two narrow breast bands (the “double band”).
Hunting Statistics
- Length: 63–73 cm (25–29 in)
- Weight: ~1.5–2.3 kg (3.3–5.1 lb)
- Habitat: Farm dams, rivers, wetlands, golf courses and irrigated fields; feeds by grazing and gleaning grain.
- Behavior/Flight: Pairs or small family groups; loud, wary and strong flyers; reliable dawn/dusk flights between water and fields—decoys work best on recently used feed.
- Distinguishing Features: Pale brown body with rich chestnut shoulder patch, dark eye patch, small dark breast blotch, large white forewing showing in flight, and pink legs.
Hunting Statistics
- Length: 34–38 cm (13–15 in)
- Weight: ~500–700 g (1.1–1.5 lb)
- Habitat: Montane and sub-montane grasslands, burnt slopes and vleis from the Eastern Cape through Lesotho into KZN/Free State.
- Behavior/Flight: Pairs or small coveys; often runs before flushing; explosive, direct flights just above the grass; ringing dawn calls mark territories.
- Distinguishing Features: Intricately scaled grey-brown plumage, pale grey face/neck, warm buff throat, broad ashy-grey wing panel obvious in flight, yellow legs.
Hunting Statistics
- Length: 1.3–1.8 kg (2.9–4.0 lb)
- Weight: Farmland, savanna, scrub and vineyard margins; roosts in trees, feeds on seeds and insects.
- Habitat: Farmland, savanna, scrub and vineyard margins; roosts in trees, feeds on seeds and insects.
- Behavior/Flight: Moves in noisy flocks; prefers to run before flushing; short, fast, low flights—ideal for walk-ups and organised drives.
- Distinguishing Features: Dark slate body spotted white, bare blue face with red wattles, and a hard helmet/casque on the crown.
Hunting Statistics
- Length: 25–28 cm (10–11 in)
- Weight: 140–190 g (5–6.7 oz)
- Habitat: Semi-arid dunes and gravel plains with sparse shrubs; feeds on seeds, drinks at open pans and troughs.
- Behavior/Flight: Flocks commute to water shortly after sunrise and again near sunset; swift, direct flyers with whistling wings and low, fast passes.
- Distinguishing Features: Male shows rich yellow face/throat with a fine dark border, warm fawn breast and scaled upperparts; female heavily mottled buff-brown; both with pointed central tail feathers.
Hunting Statistics
- Length: 32–36 cm (12.5–14 in)
- Weight: 450–700 g (1.0–1.5 lb)
- Habitat: Dense cover along drainage lines, woodland/forest edges and agricultural margins from KwaZulu-Natal to Limpopo.
- Behavior/Flight: Pairs or small coveys; prefers to run before flushing; explosive, direct flights just above the grass—best worked at first/last light.
- Distinguishing Features: Brown head and back with boldly black-and-white scaled chest/flanks, orange-red legs and bill, short tail.
Hunting Statistics
- Length: 28–32 cm (11–12.5 in)
- Weight: 300–500 g (0.7–1.1 lb)
- Habitat: Karoo and savanna grasslands, thornveld and stony slopes; often along riverine belts and fallow fields.
- Behavior/Flight: Pairs or small coveys; prefers to run before flushing; explosive, direct flights just above the grass—best at first/last light.
- Distinguishing Features: Warm rufous/buff tones with bold dark streaking, pale mottled throat, orange-yellow legs, slim bill and short tail.
Hunting Statistics
- Length: 2.1–2.8 m (6.9–9.2 ft)
- Weight: 90–145 kg (200–320 lb) males; females lighter
- Habitat: Open savanna, Karoo and semi-arid grasslands; often in small groups near water or grazing herds.
- Behavior/Flight: Flightless; extremely alert with excellent eyesight; can run up to ~70 km/h (43 mph); relies on speed and powerful kicks for defense.
- Distinguishing Features: Male with black body and white wings/tail, female brown-grey; very long neck and legs, large eyes, two-toed feet with a dominant claw.
Hunting Statistics
- Length: 30–34 cm (12–13.5 in)
- Weight: ~180–260 g (6–9 oz)
- Habitat: Woodland and thornveld, riverine belts, crop fields, parks and farmyards; gathers at water in dry seasons.
- Behavior/Flight: Singles or pairs with steady, fast, direct flight; peak movement early morning and late afternoon, especially to/from water and feeding areas.
- Distinguishing Features: Pale grey head with pinkish wash, broad black hind-collar edged pale, warm brown wings/back, and a clear crimson eye with red orbital ring.
Hunting Statistics
- Length: 33–38 cm (13–15 in)
- Weight: 500–750 g (1.1–1.7 lb)
- Habitat: Mopane/Acacia thornveld, riverine thickets, crop margins and bushy hillsides—common in Limpopo & North West.
- Behavior/Flight: Pairs or small coveys; often runs before flushing; explosive, direct flights just over the grass; loud dawn/dusk calls mark territories.
- Distinguishing Features: Fine grey barring, bright red bill and legs, yellow eye-ring, short tail, sturdy build.
Hunting Statistics
- Length: 43–48 cm (17–19 in)
- Weight: 600–900 g (1.3–2.0 lb)
- Habitat: Shallow freshwater pans, dams, slow rivers and floodplains; often in mixed flocks with other ducks.
- Behavior/Flight: Crepuscular feeder; arrives in small parties on first light, circles low and drops to decoys; swift, agile flight.
- Distinguishing Features: Mottled brown body, pale face with dark crown and eye-stripe, distinct bright red bill; greenish speculum edged pale.
Hunting Statistics
- Length: 33–37 cm (13–14.5 in)
- Weight: ~550–800 g (1.2–1.8 lb)
- Habitat: Thornveld, woodland and farm margins; often near drainage lines, cane/maize fields and rocky scrub.
- Behavior/Flight: Pairs or small coveys; prefers to run before flushing; explosive, direct flights just over the grass; loud dawn/dusk calls reveal coveys.
- Distinguishing Features: Dark brown body with fine barring, bare red face and throat, red legs, stout bill; throat may show a small black patch.
Hunting Statistics
- Length: 33–36 cm (13–14 in)
- Weight: ~450–700 g (1.0–1.5 lb)
- Habitat: Damp to mid-length grasslands, vleis, pastures and cereal field margins; often near ridges and drainage lines.
- Behavior/Flight: Pairs or small coveys; prefers to run before flushing; explosive, direct flights just over the grass; ringing dawn calls betray territories.
- Distinguishing Features: Rich rufous wing panels (visible in flight), buff face with bold dark stripes, heavily streaked/banded breast and flanks, orange legs.
Hunting Statistics
- Length: 30–34 cm (12–13.5 in)
- Weight: ~300–500 g (0.7–1.1 lb)
- Habitat: Tall to mid-length grass savanna, mopane/miombo edges, drainage lines and fallow fields.
- Behavior/Flight: Pairs or small coveys; often runs before flushing; explosive, direct flights just above the grass; most active at first/last light.
- Distinguishing Features: Rich rufous face and nape, white throat with dark necklace, finely scaled breast, boldly patterned upperparts; grey bill, yellowish legs.
Hunting Statistics
- Length: 75–115 cm (30–45 in)
- Weight: 3–7 kg (6.5–15 lb)
- Habitat: Shallow pans, floodplains and farm dams; feeds on pastures and crop fields nearby.
- Behavior/Flight: Small to medium flocks; strong, high flyers on dawn/dusk commutes; often decoy-shy, circling wide before committing.
- Distinguishing Features: Massive dark goose with white belly/flanks, glossy green wing sheen, bare red facial skin and bill, and a sharp carpal “spur” on the wing.
Hunting Statistics
- Length: 33–38 cm (13–15 in)
- Weight: ~550–900 g (1.2–2.0 lb)
- Habitat: Thornveld, savanna and cultivated margins; frequent along drainage lines, fence rows and stubble fields.
- Behavior/Flight: Pairs or small coveys; often runs before flushing; explosive, direct flights just over the grass; loud dawn “kreee” calls mark territories.
- Distinguishing Features: Dark brown, finely scaled plumage; bare red face/throat with small wattle; blackish bill; sturdy build, short tail.
Hunting Statistics
- Length: 42–48 cm (16.5–19 in)
- Weight: ~600–1,000 g (1.3–2.2 lb)
- Habitat: Shallow lakes, marshes, floodplains and farm dams; often roosts on banks or emergent vegetation.
- Behavior/Flight: Noisy, tight flocks; crepuscular feeder; fast, agile flyers that swing wide before committing—effective calling helps draw them.
- Distinguishing Features: Striking white face and throat contrasting with black head/neck, rich chestnut breast, finely barred flanks, long grey legs.
Hunting Statistics
- Length: 50–58 cm (20–23 in)
- Weight: ~700–1,200 g (1.5–2.6 lb)
- Habitat: Permanent freshwater pans, farm dams, marshes and slow rivers; pairs and small flocks, often with other puddle ducks.
- Behavior/Flight: Crepuscular feeder; steady, agile flight; circles low and commits to decoys with cautious passes—more wary as the season progresses.
- Distinguishing Features: Dark, finely scalloped body, pale face with dark crown, bold yellow bill (dark nail at tip), and iridescent green speculum; dull orange legs.
