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Cercomela tractrac

[edit] Identification

14-15 cm. White tail with a dark inverted “T� at the tip, black short straight bill, black legs and feet, dark eye.

The Namib form found on hummock dunes and at the coast has almost white plumage with grey wings and grey tail marking. The south-eastern form, found in gravel plains has brown upperparts with blackish flight feathers and tail markings. Its underparts are white. The sexes are similar, but the juvenile is more mottled than the adult.

[edit] Distribution

Angola, western Namibia and western South Africa.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Habitat

Desert scrub, hummock dunes and gravel plains.

[edit] Behaviour

It builds a cup-shaped nest of straw and leaves on the ground, usually under a bush or shrub. 2-3 red eggs are laid. This species is monogamous, mating for life.

The diet includes butterflies, bees, wasps, locusts and ants. Prey is typically taking in a short flight.

[edit] External Links