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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]] |
+ | '''Alternative name: Cape Grass-Warbler''' | ||
;[[:Category:Sphenoeacus|Sphenoeacus]] afer | ;[[:Category:Sphenoeacus|Sphenoeacus]] afer | ||
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==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]], [[ | + | Southern [[Africa]]: Southern and eastern [[South Africa]], [[Lesotho]], [[eSwatini]], 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 includes the ''Sylvietta'' crombecs, [[Rockrunner]] ''Achaetops pycnopygius'', [[Victorin's | + | 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==== | |
− | There are four subspecies based on size and the varying intensity of the colour of the upperparts and of the streaking of the underparts. | + | There are four subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup> 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 eSwatini, northern [[Lesotho]] and Transvaal | ||
+ | *''S. a. intermedius'': | ||
+ | :*[[Lesotho]] to Transkei and Port Elizabeth | ||
+ | *''S. a. afer'': | ||
+ | :*South-western Cape Province | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
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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== | ||
− | 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-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== | ||
+ | Search the Gallery using the scientific name: | ||
{{GSearch|Sphenoeacus+afer}} | {{GSearch|Sphenoeacus+afer}} | ||
− | [[Category:Birds]][[Category: | + | Search the Gallery using the common name: |
+ | {{GSearch|"Cape Grassbird"}} | ||
+ | {{GS-checked}} | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Sphenoeacus]] |
Latest revision as of 20:18, 7 March 2022
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, eSwatini, 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
There are four subspecies[1] 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 eSwatini, 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 5 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Cape_Grassbird
External Links
Search the Gallery using the scientific name:
Search the Gallery using the common name:
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.