From Opus

Includes Stierling's Wren Warbler
Alternative name: Pale Wren-Warbler

Calamonastes undosus

Calamonastes stierlingi

Photo by GarethH
Location: Afsaal area, southern Kruger National Park, South Africa

[edit] Identification

14 cm. Brown head, black bill, black-and-white barred underparts, pink legs and a brown back. The eyes are orange.

[edit] Distribution

Africa: North-eastern South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, north-eastern Botswana, Caprivi (Namibia), Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, southern and extreme western DRC and Congo.

[edit] Taxonomy

The southern races (Caprivi, southern Zambia, Mozambique and South Africa) are split as Stierling's Wren-Warbler Calamonastes stierlingi by some. Others lump C. undosus with Grey Wren-Warbler C. simplex.

[edit] Habitat

Savanna and miombo woodlands.

[edit] Behaviour

The diet includes small invertebrates gleaned from leaves and stems near the ground, or on the ground.

It builds a nest in the tree canopy (0.5-6 m above the ground), protected by branches and thick foliage. Living leaves are sewn together to create an outer shell which is lined with plant down, spider web and fine grass. Two to four white eggs are laid.

[edit] References

1. Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ & Ryan PG (eds) 2005. Robert's Birds of Southern Africa, 7th edition. John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, South Africa. ISBN 0620340533

[edit] External Links