Alternative names: Pink-throated Longclaw, Rosy-breasted Longclaw
- Macronyx ameliae
Identification
19–20 cm (7½-8 in)
- Male: Olive and brown head, black bill, a scarlet throat bordered by black breast band, some reddish on underside, brown legs and a brown back. The eyes are brown.
- Female: weaker / narrower breast band than adult males but still have some pink / red on the throat.
- Juvenile: streaks across the breast and throat is pale to warm creamy
Distribution
Africa: From Kenya and Democratic Republic of Congo south to South Africa.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are three subspecies[1]:
- M. a. wintoni:
- M. a. altanus:
- Eastern and southern Angola to south-western Tanzania, northern Botswana and north-western Mozambique
- M. a. ameliae:
- Coastal s Mozambique and north-eastern South Africa
Habitat
Wet or flooded lowland grassland, close to water.
Behaviour
Diet
They feed on the ground looking for insects and their larvae, such as ants, butterflies, bees, wasps, locusts and grasshoppers. Also small frogs may sometimes be preyed upon.
Breeding
Their ground nest is placed under a bush and constructed from figs, straw and leaves. The clutch consists of 2 to 3 brown eggs.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved Jan 2018)
- Birdforum thread with discussion of juveniles and females
