From Opus

Photo by rudydbn
Location: South Africa

Cossypha humeralis

[edit] Identification

Length 16-18 cm, mass 20-29 g. Adult: The upperparts are mostly slate-grey, with the rump being orange. The face and neck are black, and the eyebrow is white. The wings are black with a white stripe. The underparts are mainly white with orange-buff on the flanks and undertail. The tail is orange with a black centre and black tip. Immature: Spotted buff and dark brown.

[edit] Distribution

North-eastern South Africa, eastern Botswana, Zimbabwe, and southern Mozambique.

[edit] Taxonomy

Monotypic.

[edit] Habitat

Thickets, riverine bush, dense woodland and gardens.

[edit] Behaviour

Solitary or in pairs. The White-throated Robin Chat usually keeps to dense cover, where it forages on the ground for insects and other invertebrates. Fruit is also eaten.

[edit] Vocalisation

An accomplished mimic, incorporating the calls of many other birds into its high-pitched, warbling song.

[edit] Breeding

These birds breed from September to December; nests are made in a concealed position on the ground and two to three eggs are laid.

[edit] References

1. Hockey, PAR, WRJ Dean, and PG Ryan, eds. 2005. Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa. 7th ed. Cape Town: John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. ISBN 978-0620340533

• List of references

[edit] External Links