Cape Bunting
Emberiza capensis
Various dry habitats. Black-and-white streaked head; rufous wings, crown, mantle; below washed grey-brown.
Buntings, Canaries, Siskins
LC
Near Endemic
Description
Common, near-endemic resident. Regionally variable, but differs from [Cinnamon-breasted Bunting] in pale throat and paler, duller underparts. Sexes are alike. Immature is duller. Call is a distinctive ‘cheriowee’. The song, uttered from a rock or bush top, is ‘cheep, cheep, tip, cheeucheeu, tip-cheeu-tip-cheeu’. Occurs singly, in pairs or in flocks in a variety of semi-arid, coastal montane regions, coastal sand dunes with sparse scrub, rocky hillsides in the Karoo and Zimbabwe, broad-leaved woodland in Zimbabwe plus suburbia in many regions.
Quick Facts
Size
16 cm - S
Names
A: Rooivlerkstreepkoppie
Z: usokhandamidwonsundu
Ss: Mmaborokwane-Nyaopedi
G: Kapammer
Bird Family
Sparrow-sized or smaller songbirds. Canaries and siskins have strong conical bills, usually notched tails and undulating flight. Buntings are strongly terrestrial and have weaker, narrower bills. Many species are nomadic.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
Occurs singly, in pairs or in 'flocks' in a variety of semi-arid, coastal montane regions, coastal sand dunes with sparse scrub, rocky hillsides in the 'Karoo' and Zimbabwe, 'broad-leaved woodland' in Zimbabwe plus suburbia in many regions.
