Herds in the distance
-
by
dbrunor
How do you identify herds in the far distance? Is it fair to presume they are the same as the animal in the forefront, in this case the zebra?
Posted
-
by
tillydad
moderator
in response to dbrunor's comment.
Trying to identify animals in the distance can be difficult . Enlarge the image, using the CTRL + feature, or by enlarging the browser window and look for clues such as colour, size, body shape and habitat . In this image there are some zebra and some wildebeest 😃
Posted
-
by
davidbygott
moderator
Animals you are likely to see in distance are those that graze in open country in daytime. So you aren't likely to get distant views of hippo, waterbuck, bushbuck, reedbuck, impala or dikdik. Here are some of the cues I have found useful:
Elephant: gray to black, many different sizes in group, big ears that flap.
Giraffe: unmistakable shape.
Buffalo: black, mostly same size within group, level backs. Groups may be large or small but generally compact.
Wildebeest: black, same size, angled backs (sloping back from shoulders down to pale rump, and steeply down forward to grazing head, often in long lines or massed herds.
Zebra: neutral grey to white, level backs, long heads, usually in small to medium groups, often with wildebeest
Gazelles: tan or beige color, often loosely scattered, small. If you can see black side stripe, probably Tommies. If you can see big horns or white butt, probably Grant's.
Hartebeest: tan color like dry grass, sloping appearance with head held high, size like wildebeest.
Topi: similar size and shape but looks darker.
Eland: warm grey to beige, bigger than zebra or wildebeest.
Ostrich: rounded like a small compact bush, gray or black.Posted