Streaky-breasted Spiderhunter

A large, slender, long-tailed gray chat with bold white outer tail feathers that frame the black tail. South African races are slaty gray with grayish rumps, while Namibian races are smaller and paler with whitish rumps. This is a bold chat that perches conspicuously on fences and shrubs throughout arid rangelands, dropping to the ground to forage before flying strongly and occasionally distantly to another perch, showing the diagnostic tail pattern. The Tractrac Chat is shorter-tailed, prefers hyper-arid barren environments, and has a distinctive V-shaped black wedge in the tail that the Karoo Chat lacks.

Restricted to largely inaccessible Isla Selkirk (formerly Isla Masafuera) in Juan Fernández Islands, Chile, where it is uncommon and restricted to higher elevations. Favors dense fern forest and is often somewhat skulking, although can be tame and confiding when found. No similar species on the island. Plumage resembles Thorn-tailed Rayadito of mainland Chile, but less brightly patterned with duller pale eyebrow and duskier underparts.

Sturdy songbird of open farmlands and fields; can often be found fairly close to human habitation. Adult male has soft brown head and breast, bluish bill, and white belly. Female darker, with dirty brown extending from the head down to the back and belly. Both sexes have white rumps, black flight feathers, and bright white wing coverts. Often found in large flocks with other starlings. Notably smaller and stouter than many of the other starlings in its range.