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| − | + | [[Image:Cape_Grass_Warbler.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by the late '''[http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showgallery.php/ppuser/39695/cat/500 Jan Van den Broeck]'''<br />Goudini Spa, [[South Africa]], May 2004]] | |
| − | [[Image:Cape_Grass_Warbler.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by | + | '''Alternative name: Cape Grass-Warbler''' |
| − | Cape Grass Warbler | + | ;[[:Category:Sphenoeacus|Sphenoeacus]] afer |
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | Length 19-23 cm, mass 27-34 g. '''Adult''': Crown and ear coverts rusty red, streaked black on hindcrown and nape. There are two black malar stripes on each side of the pale buff throat. The back is black streaked buff and the rump is rufous. The underparts are buff with black streaks on the flanks. The tail is rufous and fairly long, often looking untidy as the | + | Length 19-23 cm, mass 27-34 g.<br /> |
| + | '''Adult''': Crown and ear coverts rusty red, streaked black on hindcrown and nape. There are two black malar stripes on each side of the pale buff throat. The back is black streaked buff and the rump is rufous. The underparts are buff with black streaks on the flanks. The tail is rufous and fairly long, often looking untidy as the [[Topography#Tails|rectrices]] have pointed tips. <br /> | ||
| + | '''Immature''': Similar to the adult, but duller, and with dark streaks on the crown. | ||
| + | |||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
Southern [[Africa]]: Southern and eastern [[South Africa]], [[Lesotho]], [[Swaziland]], eastern [[Zimbabwe]] highlands and adjacent [[Mozambique]] highlands. | Southern [[Africa]]: Southern and eastern [[South Africa]], [[Lesotho]], [[Swaziland]], eastern [[Zimbabwe]] highlands and adjacent [[Mozambique]] highlands. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | The only species in the genus ''Sphenoeacus''. Recent molecular studies indicate that this species is one of a group of African warblers which | + | The only species in the genus ''[[:Category:Sphenoeacus|Sphenoeacus]]''. Recent molecular studies indicate that this species is one of a group of African warblers which includes the ''[[:Category:Sylvietta|Sylvietta]]'' crombecs, [[Rockrunner]] ''Achaetops pycnopygius'', [[Victorin's Warbler]] ''Cryptillus'' (or ''Bradypterus'') ''victorini'', and [[Yellow Longbill]] ''Macrosphenus flavicans'' (Beresford et al. 2005). |
| + | ====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>==== | ||
| + | There are four subspecies based on size and the varying intensity of the colour of the upperparts and of the streaking of the underparts. | ||
| + | *''S. a. excisus'': | ||
| + | :*Eastern [[Zimbabwe]] and adjacent south-western [[Mozambique]] | ||
| + | *''S. a. natalensis'': | ||
| + | :*[[KwaZulu-Natal]] to western [[Swaziland]], northern [[Lesotho]] and Transvaal | ||
| + | *''S. a. intermedius'': | ||
| + | :*[[Lesotho]] to Transkei and Port Elizabeth | ||
| + | *''S. a. afer'': | ||
| + | :*South-western Cape Province | ||
| − | |||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Rank and shrubby grasslands, ''Restio'' fynbos, bracken and heath. | Rank and shrubby grasslands, ''Restio'' fynbos, bracken and heath. | ||
| Line 15: | Line 27: | ||
Generally inconspicuous as it forages on the ground in rank vegetation, but in the early morning frequently sunbathes on, or calls from, a prominent perch. | Generally inconspicuous as it forages on the ground in rank vegetation, but in the early morning frequently sunbathes on, or calls from, a prominent perch. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thDec09}}#Beresford P, Barker FK, Ryan PG & Crowe T M 2005. African endemics span the tree of songbirds (Passeri): molecular systematics of several evolutionary ‘enigmas’. Proc. R. Soc. B 272, 849–858. | |
| + | #{{Ref-Hockeyetal05}} | ||
| + | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Sphenoeacus+afer}} | {{GSearch|Sphenoeacus+afer}} | ||
| − | [[Category:Birds]][[Category: | + | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Sphenoeacus]] |
Revision as of 23:18, 27 October 2017
Alternative name: Cape Grass-Warbler
- Sphenoeacus afer
Identification
Length 19-23 cm, mass 27-34 g.
Adult: Crown and ear coverts rusty red, streaked black on hindcrown and nape. There are two black malar stripes on each side of the pale buff throat. The back is black streaked buff and the rump is rufous. The underparts are buff with black streaks on the flanks. The tail is rufous and fairly long, often looking untidy as the rectrices have pointed tips.
Immature: Similar to the adult, but duller, and with dark streaks on the crown.
Distribution
Southern Africa: Southern and eastern South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, eastern Zimbabwe highlands and adjacent Mozambique highlands.
Taxonomy
The only species in the genus Sphenoeacus. Recent molecular studies indicate that this species is one of a group of African warblers which includes the Sylvietta crombecs, Rockrunner Achaetops pycnopygius, Victorin's Warbler Cryptillus (or Bradypterus) victorini, and Yellow Longbill Macrosphenus flavicans (Beresford et al. 2005).
Subspecies[1]
There are four subspecies based on size and the varying intensity of the colour of the upperparts and of the streaking of the underparts.
- S. a. excisus:
- Eastern Zimbabwe and adjacent south-western Mozambique
- S. a. natalensis:
- KwaZulu-Natal to western Swaziland, northern Lesotho and Transvaal
- S. a. intermedius:
- Lesotho to Transkei and Port Elizabeth
- S. a. afer:
- South-western Cape Province
Habitat
Rank and shrubby grasslands, Restio fynbos, bracken and heath.
Behaviour
Generally inconspicuous as it forages on the ground in rank vegetation, but in the early morning frequently sunbathes on, or calls from, a prominent perch.
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Beresford P, Barker FK, Ryan PG & Crowe T M 2005. African endemics span the tree of songbirds (Passeri): molecular systematics of several evolutionary ‘enigmas’. Proc. R. Soc. B 272, 849–858.
- 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
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Cape Grassbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 19 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Cape_Grassbird
