Karoo Chat
Cercomela schlegelii
Karoo scrub. Eastern race grey. Namibian race has pale brown upperparts, pale brown breast, white belly and vent; pale brown rump and white outer tail feathers.
Chats, Robins, Thrushes
LC
Near Endemic
Description
Common near-endemic resident. Larger, more robust and elongated than [Sickle-winged Chat] to [Tractrac Chat]. Southern and eastern races (a) darkest with grey rump and white on outer tail-feathers extending to tip of tail; smallest, palest Namibian race (b) has white on outer tail-feathers and upper tail coverts, plus beige rump; cf. also [Mountain Wheatear]. Has a rattling call ‘tirr-tit-tat’. Frequents succulent Karoo scrub and perches on tall scrub, fences and telephone wires.
Quick Facts
Size
15-18 cm - S
Names
A: Karoospekvreter
G: Bleichschmätzer, Wüstenschmätzer
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
Frequents succulent 'Karoo' scrub and perches on tall scrub, fences and telephone wires.
