Marico Flycatcher
Bradornis mariquensis
A large flycatcher with upright posture, plain brown upperparts with warm edges to flight feathers, and diagnostic and strongly contrasting bold white underparts. Juveniles are heavily streaked brown and white. Pairs and small groups inhabit arid scrub, favoring thorn trees, where they sit conspicuously on low perches, sallying or pouncing onto the ground to subdue prey. All other brown flycatchers in the same range have brown or buffy underparts.
Taxonomy
The Marico flycatcher was previously placed in the genus Bradornis but was moved to Melaenornis based on the results of a molecular phylogenetic study published in 2010.
- Scientific name
- Bradornis mariquensis
- Authority
- Smith, A, 1847
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Genus
- Bradornis
Range and habitat
Its natural habitat is dry savanna. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Red-throated Thrush
Turdus ruficollis
This eastern counterpart of the Black-throated Thrush also breeds in montane areas and winters in lower-elevation areas on average. Males gray above and white below, with a brick-red throat and supercilium. Female paler, with more streaking on the breast and light suffusion of red on the face. Streaky and drab young birds can be difficult to distinguish from Black-throated; chestnut outer tail feathers and orange suffusion to the throat area indicate Red-throated. In areas of overlap, beware hybrids that may show features of both species. Pleasant song is simpler than that of Black-throated, and is composed of fluty whistles and trills. Calls include typical “chekchekchek” and high, thin “tseee.”
Spotted Eagle-Owl
Bubo africanus
A large, gray-brown owl with bright yellow eyes, erect ear-tufts, and finely-barred belly and lower breast. The default large owl throughout its range; occurrs in a broad range of lightly-wooded habitats, including suburbia. The typical call is a soft, booming “whooo-whooo” or “whoo-are-you?”. The similar Cape Eagle-Owl is larger, prefers cliffs and gullies, has a heavily-blotched upper breast, and has burnt-orange eyes. Grayish Eagle-Owl is more heavily barred and has dark-brown eyes.
Yellow-bellied Waxbill
Coccopygia quartinia
Small, pretty, montane waxbill. Note the bicolored black-and-red bill, gray head, yellow belly, olive back, and black tail. The red rump is conspicuous in flight. Found at middle and high elevations in lush scrub, gardens, cultivation, grassland, and forest edge. Often feeds on the grass along road edges. Usually in small flocks. The call is a clear “swee,” often given in flight.
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