African Yellow Warbler

Alternative names: African Yellow Warbler, Dark-capped Yellow Warbler.

Chloropeta natalensis

Photo by Alan Manson
Midmar Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Identification

Length 14-15 cm, mass 12 g. Upperparts olive-brown; tail and flight feathers darker. Underparts bright yellow. Bill dark, eyes brown, legs and feet slate-grey. Sexes similar. Song rich and distinctive.

Distribution

Sub-Saharan Africa: Cameroon to Ethiopia and eastern South Africa.

Taxonomy

There are three or four subspecies; There is variation in the plumage coloration (different shades of brown and yellow).

Habitat

Rank vegetation along watercourses and forest edges and near wetlands.

Behaviour

Usually found singly or in pairs, these birds are inconspicuous unless singing. They forage for invertebrates low down in the vegetation.

The nest is a cup of grass blades made within 2 m of the ground; 2-3 eggs are laid.

References

Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ & Ryan PG (eds) 2005. Robert's Birds of Southern Africa, 7th edition. Cape Town: John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. ISBN 0620340533

Lepage D. 2007. Avibase. Search for "Chloropeta natalensis" downloaded 29 October 2007.

External Links

Search for photos of African Yellow Warbler in the gallery

• View more images of this species on the African Bird Image Database.