From Opus

Alternative name: Karoo Eremomela

Photo by safariranger
Location: Goegab Nature Reserve, north-western South Africa.

Eremomela gregalis

[edit] Identification

Length 12 cm, mass 7-9 g.

Adult: Upper parts greyish green with yellow-green rump, wings mostly brown. Under parts whitish, vent yellow. The eyes are bright yellow and the bill is black.

[edit] Distribution

Western Namibia and western South Africa.

[edit] Taxonomy

Eremomela gregalis has two subspecies:¹

• E. g. damarensis

• West-central Namibia.

• E. g. gregalis

• South-western Namibia and western and south-central South Africa.

[edit] Habitat

Karoo and semi-desert scrub, especially along dry river courses.

[edit] Behaviour

Usually in groups of up to 10 birds. They are difficult to see as they keep low as they move from bush to bush. They eat small invertebrates, mostly gleaned from branches and leaves of bushes.

[edit] Breeding

Probably monogamous, but breed cooperatively. The nest is a cup of twigs, bark, lichen, grass and plant down; usually placed in a bush less than 40 cm above the ground. Two to four eggs are laid, usually August to October.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist.
2. 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