Rüppell's Robin-Chat
Cossypha semirufa
A colorful robin-chat of montane habitats. The head is strikingly patterned, with a black cap and cheek, a white eyebrow, and an orange throat. The tail has a black center and broad orange sides that can be conspicuous in flight. Found in the dense understory of montane forest and in lush woodlands and gardens, usually in pairs. Very similar to White-browed Robin-Chat, but generally found at higher elevations and in more forested environments. Also separated by a different and far more variable song, and by the black rather than greenish center to the tail. The song is complex, variable, and musical, and can include imitations of other birds. Frequently gives a distinctive sequence of whistles in a high-low-high-low pattern.
Identification
It is a smaller version of the White-browed robin-chat, measuring 18 cm rather than 20 cm, with darker, blackish central tail feathers, and in some races a more constricted supercilium behind the eye.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Cossypha semirufa
- Authority
- (Rüppell, 1837)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Genus
- Cossypha
Range and habitat
It is found in subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, including Juniper and Podocarpus forest, and in subtropical or tropical moist shrubland and gardens. It is native to Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan and Tanzania.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Fox's Weaver
Ploceus spekeoides
A chunky, short-tailed, long-billed weaver. Breeding males are mostly yellow with a black face mask, a pale eye, and a mostly black, yellow-streaked back. Females are much duller, brownish-olive overall and pale yellow below. Found very locally in Uganda, in swamps within savanna. Similar to Heuglin’s Masked-Weaver, but larger, and males have a darker back. Vocalizations are typical of weavers: “chek” notes and a squealing, sizzling “radio static” song.
Eurasian Skylark
Alauda arvensis
Like most larks, often inconspicuous on the ground and best detected by voice. The prolonged warbling and trilling song is given in flight, often so far overhead that the bird appears as a speck, if you can even see it. On the ground, note brown streaky plumage, distinct bushy crest, and broad, diffuse paler eyering. Chunkier than pipits, and does not habitually bob its rear end. In flight shows white sides to tail and narrow white trailing edge to wings. A denizen of open country, especially rough grassland, heathland, farmland, and airports.
Black-throated Barbet
Tricholaema melanocephala
A medium-sized black-and-white barbet. Note the boldly striped face and the black throat patch. Found in dry savanna and thornscrub. Similar to Spot-flanked Barbet, but lacks spots on the flanks and has a dark rather than yellow eye. Also similar to Red-fronted Barbet, but lacks a red front, and has a black throat. The common call is a series of several nasal “kya” notes.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.