Boulder Chat
Pinarornis plumosus
Rocky regions. Zimbabwe and Botswana. White spots on upper wing and tail tip.
Chats, Robins, Thrushes
LC
Near Endemic
Description
Fairly common, near-endemic, localised resident. Sooty black except for white in the wings and tail; immature similar. Utters a monotonous squeaking ‘ink, ink, wink, wink’ like an unoiled wheel, plus a clear whistle with the bill held vertically. Lively and agile, raising its tail when landing. Pairs frequent the well-wooded lower slopes of hills with rounded, granite boulders, occasionally in similar habitat at higher levels. Is most numerous in the Matobo National Park of southern Zimbabwe. Sparsely distributed in most regions and often difficult to locate. Singletons have been recorded in northern South Africa; possibly overlooked there, as much suitable habitat exists.
Quick Facts
Size
23-27 cm - M
Names
A: Swartberglyster
G: Steindroßling
Bird Family
Largely terrestrial, insectivorous or frugivorous birds that sing from trees, some robins rating as among our finest songsters. The sexes are alike unless otherwise stated, while immatures usually have the feathers of the upperparts pale-edged, the underparts spotted.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
Pairs frequent the well-wooded lower slopes of hills with rounded, granite boulders, occasionally in similar habitat at higher levels.
