Rosy-throated Longclaw
Macronyx ameliae
Beautiful pipit that is pink below and streaked brown above. The male has a bold black chest band and streaking, while the female is not as heavily marked. Found in wet grasslands, where it is generally shy and inconspicuous. Vocalizations include a two-part “dhew-dhew” call that is sometimes quickly repeated or extended into a long whistle. Separated from other longclaws by its pink underparts.
Identification
Adult birds are 19–20 centimetres (7.5–7.9 in) long with greyish-brown scalloped upper parts. The male has a pink throat and breast crossed with a broad black band across the chest, which is not evident outside of breeding season. Female birds have pink underparts, but lack the black band. Immature birds have mainly black-streaked pale brown underparts with some pink-red colour centrally.<p>It makes a chiteet call, resembling that of a pipit.<p>The rosy-throated longclaw is found in wet grasslands and flood plains, often with lower grasses. Found across central and eastern Africa, it is more patchily distributed in the south of the continent. It is restricted to the Okavango Delta, Linyanti Marshes and Chobe floodplains in Botswana and Namibia, the Zimbabwe highveld in Zimbabwe and coastal areas in Kwazulu-Natal.<p>Its occurrence in Kwazulu-Natal is threatened by coastal development. The rosy-throated longclaw breeds during the wet season from September to April.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Macronyx ameliae
- Authority
- de Tarragon, L, 1845
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Motacillidae
- Genus
- Macronyx
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
White-winged Duck
Asarcornis scutulata
Odd shy duck with a distinctly ‘farmyard’ appearance. Distinctive white head can be quite clean-looking or densely speckled with black, depending on age and sex. When at rest or foraging, predominantly dark with white patches in the wings and on the head. Extensive white wing patches most noticeable when the bird is in flight. Inhabits quiet, secluded forest waterways. Retreats into undisturbed recesses of these waterways outside of dawn and dusk.
Stripe-breasted Spinetail
Synallaxis cinnamomea
A distinctive-looking spinetail found from central Colombia to Trinidad and Tobago. Dark brown overall with rusty wings. Look for a whitish throat and dark streaking on chest. Some variation across range; populations differ in the amount of streaking and the presence or absence of a buffy eyebrow. Occurs in the understory of forests, edges, and scrubbier woodland from sea level to around 1,500 m. Like many other spinetails, skulky and difficult to see. Listen for squeaky nasal “peet-purr!” calls, often repeated.
Blue-eared Kingfisher
Alcedo meninting
A diminutive dark blue kingfisher with no rufous on the ear-patch. It has an orange spot in front of the eye, white ear tufts on the sides of the neck, and an ultramarine-blue head and neck with darker blue bands giving it a scaly appearance. Upperparts glossy dark blue with paler blue central band down the back to the rump. White chin and throat with deep orange underparts. Males have black bill with brownish-red base, while females have almost entirely red bill. Juvenile also has dark blue upperparts, but has rufous cheeks and ear-coverts similar to Common Kingfisher. Inhabits well-shaded waterways in forested areas.
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