Sickle-winged Chat
Cercomela sinuata
Grasslands and Karoo scrub. Dark brown above with rufous-edged wing feathers and pale chestnut rump; off-white below with dusky breast.
LC
Endemic
Description
Locally common endemic resident. Most resembles [Familiar Chat] but is more slightly built, wing-feathers more distinctly edged rufous, legs longer and eye-wattle more accentuated. Tail dark with buff outer edges; only upper tail coverts rufous. Immature spotted but tail pattern as adult. Frequently flicks wings open when perched. Occurs on open ground with short, scrubby vegetation, including fallow croplands and road verges. Gives a soft ‘chak’ or double ‘chak-chak’ but less vocal than [Familiar Chat].
Quick Facts
Size
15 cm - S
Names
A: Vlaktespekvreter
Ss: Letleretsane-La-Maloti
G: Oranjeschmätzer
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 on open ground with short, scrubby vegetation, including fallow croplands and road verges.
