From Opus

Laniarius ferrugineus

Photo by Mybs

[edit] Identification

Length 21-23 cm. Upperparts black with a white wing-stripe. Throat and breast creamy white; gradual transition to rufous belly. The bill and eyes are black, and the legs and feet are dark grey.

The Southern Boubou has a large repertoire of calls including loud ringing notes and harsh buzzing sounds. Often calls in duet, birds alternating several times.

[edit] Distribution

Southern and eastern South Africa, Swaziland and southern Mozambique.

[edit] Taxonomy

Laniarius ferrugineus has 6 subspecies. These vary in size and plumage colouration.

• L. f. ferrugineus from south-western South Africa (west of 23° 20' E) is described above;
• L. f. natalensis from the interior of south-eastern South Africa south of 27° 30' S; the male has a whiter throat and breast than the nominate race and the female has darker upper parts;
• L. f. pondoensis from coastal south-eastern South Africa (24° 20' E to 29° 20' S); the upper parts of the male are more glossy than those of the nominate race, and the under parts are slightly olive;
• L. f. transvaalensis from north-eastern South Africa and Swaziland; breast buffy white and belly paler rufous than nominate;
• L. f. tongensis Mozambique south of 20° 20' S and south to St Lucia in South Africa; most of under parts white; flanks and belly buffy; smaller than nominate;
• L. f. savensis Mozambique north of 20° 20' S and south of Save River; similar to L. f. tongensis, but smaller with slate grey upper parts.

[edit] Habitat

Forest, forest edge, thickets and well-wooded gardens.

[edit] Behaviour

Usually keeps to thick vegetation, where it forages mainly for invertebrates, eggs and nestlings, but also fruit and seeds. Generally secretive and most easily found by following the call, but does become habituated to humans at picnic sites and in gardens. Responds to spishing.

Breeding: The nest is a shallow cup of sticks, roots, grass and spider web, usually concealed in dense vegetation. Two to three eggs are laid August to February.

[edit] References

Claassens A & Marais E. 2008. Species information page - Southern Boubou. SASOL Bird e-Guide. www.birdlife.org.za/fieldguide Downloaded 25 January 2008.

Gibbon, G. 2002. Roberts' Multimedia Birds of Southern Africa: Version 3. John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. www.sabirding.co.za

[edit] External Links