Long-billed Crombec
Sylvietta rufescens
Bushveld. Tailless appearance, grey above and variable burnt orange below.
Allies, Warblers
LC
Not Endemic
Description
Common resident. Tailless appearance makes confusion possible only with [Red-faced Crombec] and [Red-capped Crombec], but beware of other small warblers that have lost their tails. Most similar to Red-faced Crombec, but has distinct eyebrow, dusky eye-stripe, paler coloration about face and ear coverts and more prominent bill. Age differences negligible. The song is a loud, urgent-sounding ‘tree-cheer, tree-cheer, tree-cheer…’. Call a short, dry trill. Usually occurs in pairs in bushveld and woodland, often in bird parties. Feeds among branches and tree trunks, clambering acrobatically about all levels of the vegetation.
Quick Facts
Size
10-12 cm - S
Names
A: Bosveldstompstert
Z: usozi
G: Langschnabel-Sylvietta, Kurzschwanz- Sylvietta
Bird Family
Small, insectivorous birds of mostly sombre colouring. Many have attractive warbling songs and short calls that aid identification to the practised ear, but sound confusingly similar to the inexperienced. Several species visit southern Africa from Europe during summer. Sexes are alike.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
Usually occurs in pairs in bushveld and woodland, often in bird parties.
