Kalahari Scrub Robin
Erythropygia paena
Thornveld. Predominantly rufous above, including rump and tail coverts; whitish below.
Chats, Robins, Thrushes
LC
Near Endemic
Description
Common, near-endemic resident. Much paler, sandier-looking than [Karoo Scrub Robin]. Conspicuous rufous tail has black subterminal band and white tips (cf. [White-browed Scrub Robin]. Immature has lightly spotted underparts. Often perches on a bush calling ‘twee’ intermittently for long periods. The song is a high-pitched sequence of repeated phrases, ‘seeoo-seeoo, tweetoo-tweetoo-tweetoo, seetoo-seetoo, tritritritritri…’. Occurs singly or in pairs in Kalahari thornveld and fallow farmland, particularly in arid western regions. Feeds on open ground and sings from a tree top, but enters thorn thickets when alarmed.
Quick Facts
Size
16-17 cm - S
Names
A: Kalahariwipstert
G: Kalahariheckensänger
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
Occurs singly or in pairs in Kalahari thornveld and fallow farmland, particularly in arid western regions. Feeds on open ground and sings from a tree top, but enters thorn thickets when alarmed.
