- Cercomela schlegelii
Identification
The Karoo Chat, Cercomela schlegelii, is a small passerine bird of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae.The Karoo Chat is 16-18 cm long and weighs around 32 gm. Its upperparts are grey, but it has a rufous patch behind the eye, and the tail is black with white outer feathers. Its underparts are white, the short straight bill, legs and feet are black and the eye is dark. The sexes are similar, but the juvenile is spotted with buff and has scaly underparts. This species is paler than the similar grey form of the female Mountain Wheatear, from which it also differs in having a grey (not white) rump and completely white outer tail feathers. Its larger size and all-white outer tail feathers prevent confusion with the Tractrac or Sickle-winged Chats. The Karoo Chat has "chak-chak" and trrat-trrat calls.
Distribution
It is a common resident breeder in southwesternmost Angola, western Namibia and western South Africa.
Taxonomy
Habitat
Its habitat is Karoo and desert scrub in the south, extending to the escarpment zone in the north.
Behaviour
The Karoo Chat builds a cup-shaped nest of straw and leaves on the ground, usually under a bush or shrub. It lays two to four green eggs. This species is monogamous, mating for life. The Karoo Chat is usually seen singly or in pairs. It forages from the ground for insects including butterflies, bees, wasps, locusts and ants. Prey is typically taking in a short flight.
