Kalahari Scrub-Robin
Cercotrichas paena
A medium-sized sandy-brown scrub-robin with pale unstreaked underparts. It has a brownish back and an auburn-rusty rump and tail with a white-tipped black terminal band. Pairs frequent thickets and clumps of thorn trees in Kalahari woodland, where they forage on the ground with the tail often cocked and rocking sideways, or perch in trees singing a varied musical song that often reveals their presence. The similar Red-backed Scrub-Robin differs in having white on the wing and a streaked breast.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Cercotrichas paena
- Authority
- (Smith, A, 1836)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Genus
- Cercotrichas
Range and habitat
It is found in southern Angola, Botswana, Namibia, northern South Africa, and Zimbabwe, where it occurs in sandveld with low trees and scrub, on the edges of woodland, and in savanna. It will also inhabit human-altered environments including old fields and gardens. The species is common and not considered threatened by human activities.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
White-headed Buffalo-Weaver
Dinemellia dinemelli
A large, chunky, beautiful and distinctive weaver found in a variety of open and savanna habitats. The head and most of the underparts are white, though the undertail and rump are red. A white wing patch is conspicuous in flight. Often found in flocks, sometimes mixed with other birds. The calls are squeaky, penetrating whistles, often given by a whole group in chorus.
Black-and-white Becard
Pachyramphus albogriseus
Small becard occurring from Venezuela to Peru, mainly on the east slope of the Andes, and disjunctly in Costa Rica and Panama. Mostly found in foothills, in middle to upper levels of humid montane forest. Male is mostly gray with bold white edges on the wing feathers and a black cap with pale spectacles. Compare with White-winged Becard, which has a black back and dark lores. Female is very different; look for her brown cap bordered with black, white spectacles, pale yellowish belly, and tawny edges on wing feathers. Extremely similar to Cryptic Becard, with potential range overlap on the east slope of the Andes in Ecuador and Peru. Male Black-and-white shows a broader upper wingbar, darker lores, a blacker upperside of the tail, and stouter bill than Cryptic. Female Black-and-white has a brighter rufous crown with a broader black border. These features may all be difficult or impossible to assess in the field; some birds are best left unidentified. Also note voice: song a slow series of one or several sweet downslurred whistles followed by an upslurred whistle, often repeated two or three times. Cryptic’s song is faster, with shorter notes.
Cassin's Sparrow
Peucaea cassinii
Dull sparrow lacking distinctive patterns. Found in grasslands with scattered bushes. Generally grayish-brown with barely noticeable blurry streaks on breast and sides, thin white eyering, and pale edges on wing feathers. Back is patterned with rufous and black. Very diffuse head pattern. Most similar to Botteri's Sparrow; where range overlaps, look for Cassin's smaller bill, thin white eyering, and voice. Gives a pleasant musical song; a few varied notes followed by four whistles on different pitches "see-soo, see-say."
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