Sandgrouse (pterocleidae) and sociable weavers Philetarius socius lack avian haematozoa in semi-arid regions of South Africa

Blood smears from 97 sandgrouse (64 Namaqua Sandgrouse Pterocles namaqua, 28 Burchellʹs Sandgrouse P. burchelli and five Doublebanded Sandgrouse P. bicinctus) and from 20 Sociable Weavers Philetarius socius collected in the semi-arid Northern Cape Province, South Africa were examined. No blood parasites were observed in any of the smears examined. Because of the scarcity of breeding habitats for the vectors of avian Haematozoa in arid and semi-arid regions of southern Africa, it is suggested that these environments are generally free of avian Haematozoa.