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| − | [[Image:Cape_Batis.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Female | + | '''Alternative name: Cape Puffback''' |
| + | [[Image:Cape_Batis.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Female<br />Photo by {{user|louisdup|louisdup}} <br />Baviaanskloof, [[South Africa]], October 2005]] | ||
;[[:Category:Batis|Batis]] capensis | ;[[:Category:Batis|Batis]] capensis | ||
'''Includes Malawi Batis and Reichenow's Batis''' | '''Includes Malawi Batis and Reichenow's Batis''' | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | + | Cape Batises have large heads relative to their small bodies. They weigh 5.1 ounces (13 grams) and are 6 inches (15 centimeters) long. They have short tails, round wings, and orange eyes. | |
| − | + | [[Image:2009_01_19_CapeBatis_and_KlaassCuckoo_AManson.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Male Cape Batis feeding a juvenule [[Klaas's Cuckoo]]<br />Photo by {{user|Alan+Manson|Alan Manson}} <br /> Slanghoek Mountain Resort, Western Cape, [[South Africa]], January 2009]] | |
'''Adult male''': Has a dark blue-gray back and tail, black head with a grey crown, white throat and belly, reddish brown flanks, and a black breast band. | '''Adult male''': Has a dark blue-gray back and tail, black head with a grey crown, white throat and belly, reddish brown flanks, and a black breast band. | ||
'''Adult female''': Similar to the male, but with reddish brown throat patch and breast band. | '''Adult female''': Similar to the male, but with reddish brown throat patch and breast band. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | Southern [[Africa]] | + | Southern [[Africa]]<br /> |
| − | + | '''Eastern Africa''': [[Zambia]], [[Mozambique]] and [[Malawi]]<br /> | |
| + | '''Southern Africa''': [[Zimbabwe]], [[South Africa]], [[KwaZulu-Natal]], [[Lesotho]] and [[Swaziland]] | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
''Batis capensis'' has seven subspecies, variation being mainly in size (northern races larger) and shades of grey and rufous plumage:<sup>[[#References|1]],[[#References|2]]</sup> | ''Batis capensis'' has seven subspecies, variation being mainly in size (northern races larger) and shades of grey and rufous plumage:<sup>[[#References|1]],[[#References|2]]</sup> | ||
*''B. c. capensis'' | *''B. c. capensis'' | ||
| − | :*Southern and south-eastern South Africa | + | :*Southern and south-eastern [[South Africa]] |
*''B. c. hollidayi'' | *''B. c. hollidayi'' | ||
| − | :*Eastern South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland | + | :*Eastern South Africa, [[Lesotho]] and [[Swaziland]] |
*''B. c. kennedyi'' | *''B. c. kennedyi'' | ||
| − | :*Eastern highlands of Zimbabwe and adjascent Mozambique highlands | + | :*Eastern highlands of [[Zimbabwe]] and adjascent [[Mozambique]] highlands |
*''B. c. erythrophthalma'' | *''B. c. erythrophthalma'' | ||
:*South-central plateau of Zimbabwe | :*South-central plateau of Zimbabwe | ||
*''B. c. dimorpha'' | *''B. c. dimorpha'' | ||
| − | :*Mountains of southern Malawi and adjacent Mozambique | + | :*Mountains of southern [[Malawi]] and adjacent Mozambique |
*''B. c. sola'' | *''B. c. sola'' | ||
:*Northern Malawi | :*Northern Malawi | ||
*''B. c. reichenowi'' | *''B. c. reichenowi'' | ||
| − | :*South-eastern Tanzania | + | :*South-eastern [[Tanzania]] |
Sibley & Monroe<sup>[[#References|6]]</sup> recognised the Malawi Batis (''B. c. dimorpha'' and ''B. c. sola'') and Reichenow's Batis (''B. c. reichenowi'') as separate species. These splits from the Cape Batis have, however, not been recognised by Clements<sup>[[#References|1]]</sup> or Howard & Moore<sup>[[#References|3]]</sup>. Recent genetic evidence from a study of the forest ''Batis'' species<sup>[[#References|2]],[[#References|5]]</sup> indictates that birds from Malawi are closely related to South African birds, but the two populations are sufficiently different to recognise them as separate species. However, birds from Zimbabwe and Mozambique were not included in this study. | Sibley & Monroe<sup>[[#References|6]]</sup> recognised the Malawi Batis (''B. c. dimorpha'' and ''B. c. sola'') and Reichenow's Batis (''B. c. reichenowi'') as separate species. These splits from the Cape Batis have, however, not been recognised by Clements<sup>[[#References|1]]</sup> or Howard & Moore<sup>[[#References|3]]</sup>. Recent genetic evidence from a study of the forest ''Batis'' species<sup>[[#References|2]],[[#References|5]]</sup> indictates that birds from Malawi are closely related to South African birds, but the two populations are sufficiently different to recognise them as separate species. However, birds from Zimbabwe and Mozambique were not included in this study. | ||
| − | |||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
The Cape Batis makes his home in forests, scrub, and planted gardens in southern [[Africa]]. Their range is from sea level to 7,050 feet (2,150 meters). | The Cape Batis makes his home in forests, scrub, and planted gardens in southern [[Africa]]. Their range is from sea level to 7,050 feet (2,150 meters). | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| − | + | ====Diet==== | |
| − | + | Like other flycatchers, Cape Batises eat insects and actively seek them throughout the forest canopy by flushing, frightening, them from their places of cover, hiding. The birds then capture their prey as it flies. | |
| − | + | ====Breeding==== | |
| + | This species mates from September to December, building a small cup-shaped nest of dry grasses, held together with spider webs. The nest is built low in thick brush in the fork of a branch and holds one to three eggs. The female incubates, sits on and warms, the eggs for seventeen to twenty-one days. Mating pairs stay together for life. Parasitised by [[Klaas's Cuckoo]]. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
#{{Ref-Clements6thOct07}}#Feldsa J, RCK Bowie and J Kiure. 2006. The Forest Batis, ''Batis mixta'' is two species: description of a new, narrowly distributed ''Batis'' species in the Eastern Arc biodiversity hotspot. Journal of Ornithology 147, 578-590. | #{{Ref-Clements6thOct07}}#Feldsa J, RCK Bowie and J Kiure. 2006. The Forest Batis, ''Batis mixta'' is two species: description of a new, narrowly distributed ''Batis'' species in the Eastern Arc biodiversity hotspot. Journal of Ornithology 147, 578-590. | ||
#{{Ref-HM03Cor7}}#{{Ref-GillWright08}}#Percy Fitzpatrick Institute. 2006. A new ''Batis'' in East Africa. Africa Birds and Birding Vol. 11, Part 6, p26. (Avilable at http://www.fitzpatrick.uct.ac.za/pdf/fitzdj06.pdf) | #{{Ref-HM03Cor7}}#{{Ref-GillWright08}}#Percy Fitzpatrick Institute. 2006. A new ''Batis'' in East Africa. Africa Birds and Birding Vol. 11, Part 6, p26. (Avilable at http://www.fitzpatrick.uct.ac.za/pdf/fitzdj06.pdf) | ||
| − | #{{Ref-SibleyMonroe96}} | + | #{{Ref-SibleyMonroe96}}#Avibase |
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Batis+capensis}} | {{GSearch|Batis+capensis}} | ||
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Batis]] | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Batis]] | ||
Revision as of 22:43, 3 October 2010
Alternative name: Cape Puffback
- Batis capensis
Includes Malawi Batis and Reichenow's Batis
Identification
Cape Batises have large heads relative to their small bodies. They weigh 5.1 ounces (13 grams) and are 6 inches (15 centimeters) long. They have short tails, round wings, and orange eyes.
Male Cape Batis feeding a juvenule Klaas's Cuckoo
Photo by Alan Manson
Slanghoek Mountain Resort, Western Cape, South Africa, January 2009
Photo by Alan Manson
Slanghoek Mountain Resort, Western Cape, South Africa, January 2009
Adult male: Has a dark blue-gray back and tail, black head with a grey crown, white throat and belly, reddish brown flanks, and a black breast band.
Adult female: Similar to the male, but with reddish brown throat patch and breast band.
Distribution
Southern Africa
Eastern Africa: Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi
Southern Africa: Zimbabwe, South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho and Swaziland
Taxonomy
Batis capensis has seven subspecies, variation being mainly in size (northern races larger) and shades of grey and rufous plumage:1,2
- B. c. capensis
- Southern and south-eastern South Africa
- B. c. hollidayi
- B. c. kennedyi
- Eastern highlands of Zimbabwe and adjascent Mozambique highlands
- B. c. erythrophthalma
- South-central plateau of Zimbabwe
- B. c. dimorpha
- Mountains of southern Malawi and adjacent Mozambique
- B. c. sola
- Northern Malawi
- B. c. reichenowi
- South-eastern Tanzania
Sibley & Monroe6 recognised the Malawi Batis (B. c. dimorpha and B. c. sola) and Reichenow's Batis (B. c. reichenowi) as separate species. These splits from the Cape Batis have, however, not been recognised by Clements1 or Howard & Moore3. Recent genetic evidence from a study of the forest Batis species2,5 indictates that birds from Malawi are closely related to South African birds, but the two populations are sufficiently different to recognise them as separate species. However, birds from Zimbabwe and Mozambique were not included in this study.
Habitat
The Cape Batis makes his home in forests, scrub, and planted gardens in southern Africa. Their range is from sea level to 7,050 feet (2,150 meters).
Behaviour
Diet
Like other flycatchers, Cape Batises eat insects and actively seek them throughout the forest canopy by flushing, frightening, them from their places of cover, hiding. The birds then capture their prey as it flies.
Breeding
This species mates from September to December, building a small cup-shaped nest of dry grasses, held together with spider webs. The nest is built low in thick brush in the fork of a branch and holds one to three eggs. The female incubates, sits on and warms, the eggs for seventeen to twenty-one days. Mating pairs stay together for life. Parasitised by Klaas's Cuckoo.
References
- Clements, JF. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019
- Feldsa J, RCK Bowie and J Kiure. 2006. The Forest Batis, Batis mixta is two species: description of a new, narrowly distributed Batis species in the Eastern Arc biodiversity hotspot. Journal of Ornithology 147, 578-590.
- Dickinson, EC, ed. 2003. The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. 3rd ed., with updates to December 2007 (Corrigenda 7). Princeton: Princeton Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0691117010
- Gill, F and M Wright. 2008. Birds of the World: Recommended English Names. Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ, USA. 2006. ISBN 9780691128276. Update (2008) downloaded from http://worldbirdnames.org/names.html.
- Percy Fitzpatrick Institute. 2006. A new Batis in East Africa. Africa Birds and Birding Vol. 11, Part 6, p26. (Avilable at http://www.fitzpatrick.uct.ac.za/pdf/fitzdj06.pdf)
- Sibley, CG and BL Monroe. 1996. Birds of the World, on diskette, Windows version 2.0. Charles G. Sibley, Santa Rosa, CA, USA.
- Avibase
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Cape Batis. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 2 June 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Cape_Batis
