Use the clues in this order
Start with the tail
Dark tail suggests blue wildebeest. A pale, horse-like tail strongly suggests black wildebeest.
Check the coat
Blue wildebeest look blue-grey with darker vertical bands. Black wildebeest are dark brown and more compact.
Compare the horns
Blue wildebeest horns sweep sideways. Black wildebeest horns curve forward and down before hooking up.
Add place carefully
Both can occur in managed reserves. Rietvlei is known for black wildebeest, while blue wildebeest occur widely in bushveld reserves.
Quick comparison
| Possibility | Most useful visible clues |
|---|---|
| Blue wildebeest / Blouwildebees | Blue-grey, dark bands, broad muzzle, dark tail. |
| Black wildebeest / Swartwildebees | Dark body, pale tail, face tuft and forward-curving horns. |
What to do when the clues conflict
Keep the report at a broad level, retain the original photograph and describe the features you saw. A careful unresolved record can be reviewed later; a guessed species can mislead everyone who follows it.
Never leave a vehicle where prohibited, approach a nest, play a call repeatedly, surround an animal or delay traffic to get a better identification.