- Monticola explorator
Identification
Length 17 cm, mass about 50 g.
Adult male': The head to upper breast and back is a striking blue-grey, contrasting with a rich orange lower breast and belly. The wings are black and grey. The bill is black and the irises are brown.
Adult female: Greyish brown with pale mottling above. Throat and breast streaked dark brown on a white to orange background. Belly creamy.
Distribution
Southern and eastern South Africa, Lesotho and eSwatini.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are two subspecies:
- M. e. explorator from most of the range of the species (Western Cape to Gauteng, Mpumalanga and eSwatini)
- M. e. tenebriformis from Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal, darker than the nominate race.
Habitat
Grasslands, heathlands, fynbos and other open habitats, often on rocky slopes.
Behaviour
Photo © by Alan Manson
Sani Pass, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa-Lesotho border.
Solitary, in pairs, or in small groups. Fairly active and often perches conspicuously.
Diet
Forages on the ground (often from a low perch) mainly for insects, but also other invertebrates, seeds and fruit.
References
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
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
