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White-browed scrub robin

May 03, 2024

The white-browed scrub robin (Cercotrichas leucophrys), also known as the red-backed scrub-robin, is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is native to sub-Saharan Africa, especially East and southern Africa. Within range, its Turdus-like song is one of the often-heard sounds of the bush. The flitting of the tail is characteristic of this species, but also of some near relatives.

White-browed scrub robin
C. l. pectoralis (above) in South Africa and C. l. zambesiana (below), Tanzania
Song of C. l. pectoralis recorded in the northern Kruger National Park, South Africa
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Muscicapidae
Genus: Cercotrichas
Species:
C. leucophrys
Binomial name
Cercotrichas leucophrys
(Vieillot, 1817)
  resident range
Synonyms

Erythropygia zambesiana
Erythropygia ruficauda
Erythropygia leucophrys

Taxonomy edit

Louis Pierre Vieillot described the white-browed scrub robin in 1817. The specific epithet is derived from the Ancient Greek words leukos "white" and ǒphrys "eyebrow".[2]

Subspecies edit

 
front: E. l. zambesiana Sharpe, 1882,
back: E. l. munda (Cabanis, 1880), illustrated by Joseph Smit Note: yellow leg colour inaccurate

For the white-browed scrub robin, some 9 to 12 subspecies are recognized:[3][4] Two groups of subspecies are recognised, namely the 'white-winged' group of arid country, and the 'red-backed' group of mesic to moist habitats.[4] Intergradation between these is apparently limited to subspecies brunneiceps and vulpina around Simba, Kenya. Otherwise the variation is clinal, though the extremes may be quite distinct.[5]

'White-winged' group edit

  • C. l. leucoptera (Rüppell, 1845) – arid woodlands, from South Sudan to Lake Turkana and Horn of Africa
  • C. l. eluta (Bowen, 1934) – dry woodlands, from Ethiopia to s Somalia and Tana River, Kenya
  • C. l. vulpina (Reichenow, 1891) – dry woodlands of eastern Kenyan and Tanzanian interior

'Red-backed' group edit

  • C. l. brunneiceps (Reichenow, 1891) – along Rift valley and Crater Highlands to Mt Meru
  • C. l. sclateri (Grote, 1930) – Mbulu Highlands to Tarangire in Tanzanian interior
  • C. l. zambesiana (Sharpe, 1882) – West of Rift Valley and along Great Lakes to east coast (South Sudan to central Mozambique)
  • C. l. munda (Cabanis, 1880) – southern Gabon to central Angola
  • C. l. ovamboensis (Neumann, 1920) – parts of Angola, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe
  • C. l. leucophrys (Vieillot, 1817) – southern Zimbabwe and Mozambique to southern South Africa

Following Clancey, the nominate subspecies is sometimes restricted to the Eastern Cape region, and the following subspecies are then distinguished from it:[6]

  • C. l. pectoralis (A.Smith, 1836) – southern Zimbabwe, eastern Botswana and northern South Africa
  • C. l. simulator Clancey, 1964 – southern Mozambique and Eswatini
  • C. l. streptitans Clancey, 1975 – KwaZulu-Natal

Description edit

The white-browed scrub robin measures 14.0–16.5 cm from bill tip to tail tip and the sexes are alike.[4] The pale superciliary stripe is distinct, and the crown may be warm brown, olive brown or greyish brown. The wings are dusky but well-marked. Greater and lesser wing coverts always white-tipped, but the secondaries with or without white edging. Amount of streaking on the breast is very variable, in subsp. ovamboensis it is reduced to fine streaking encircling the throat.[5] The breast and flanks are washed with a variable amount of tawny buff. The mantle and back is brownish to hazel or rufous, depending on the subspecies. The tail is greyish brown to rufous, with a black subterminal band and white feather tips and corners. Juveniles are mottled but with the tail pattern of adults.[4]

Distribution and habitat edit

The white-browed scrub robin is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, DRC, Djibouti, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its range spans tropical, subtropical and temperate latitudes. It is present and usually common in any mesic to arid woodland or savanna, provided that there is cover, open scrub or thickets.[5] In the Eastern Highlands it is only present up to 1,400 metres, and in East Africa up to 1,500 metres.[4] It is replaced on the Kalahari sands by the Kalahari scrub robin,[5] while in the Horn of Africa it is sympatric with the rufous bush chat, which lacks any white in the wings. Suitable habitat is usually grassy, which facilitates nesting.

Behaviour edit

 
Visiting termite galleries
C. l. pectoralis song in the northern Kruger National Park, South Africa

Sedentary except in the far south.[3] A restless but shy species which mostly sings from concealment inside bushes. It hops on the ground when foraging.[4] As with some other scrub robin species, the tail is regularly flicked and fanned, and the wings may be drooped. The alarm is a sharp skirr or skee-ip note. The loud and variable song may include countless, sometimes identical repetitions. The songs of the respective subspecies are believed to be distinguishable, and those of the 'white-winged' group are considered to be shriller.[4] It feeds on insects, especially termites and ants.[3]

Breeding edit

Pairs are monogamous and nest solitarily from early to midsummer. The nest is built from dry grass by the female only, and is placed some 10 to 20 cm up at the heart of a grass tuft.[7] Usually three eggs are laid and these are incubated by the female only. The cream-coloured eggs, measuring 20 x 14 mm, are blotched with brown and purple around the thicker end. The chicks are reared by both parents. Some nests are parasitised by cuckoos.

References edit

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Cercotrichas leucophrys". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22709927A94228013. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22709927A94228013.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ^ Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert (1980). A Greek-English Lexicon (abridged ed.). London: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-910207-4.
  3. ^ a b c Collar, N. (2018). "White-browed Scrub Robin (Cercotrichas leucophrys)". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Zimmerman, Dale A.; et al. (1999). Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania. Princeton University Press. pp. 236, 541–542. ISBN 0691010226.
  5. ^ a b c d Irwin, Michael P. Stuart (1981). The birds of Zimbabwe. Salisbury, Zimbabwe: Quest Pub. pp. 276–277. ISBN 0-86925-156-2.
  6. ^ Chittenden, H.; et al. (2012). Roberts geographic variation of southern African birds. Cape Town: JVBBF. pp. 204–205. ISBN 978-1-920602-00-0.
  7. ^ Tarboton, Warwick (2001). A Guide to the Nests and Eggs of Southern African Birds. Cape Town: Struik. p. 179. ISBN 1-86872-616-9.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cercotrichas leucophrys.
  • White-browed (scrub) robin - Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds.

May 03, 2024
white, browed, scrub, robin, white, browed, scrub, robin, cercotrichas, leucophrys, also, known, backed, scrub, robin, species, bird, family, muscicapidae, native, saharan, africa, especially, east, southern, africa, within, range, turdus, like, song, often, h. The white browed scrub robin Cercotrichas leucophrys also known as the red backed scrub robin is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae It is native to sub Saharan Africa especially East and southern Africa Within range its Turdus like song is one of the often heard sounds of the bush The flitting of the tail is characteristic of this species but also of some near relatives White browed scrub robin C l pectoralis above in South Africa and C l zambesiana below Tanzania source source Song of C l pectoralis recorded in the northern Kruger National Park South Africa Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Muscicapidae Genus Cercotrichas Species C leucophrys Binomial name Cercotrichas leucophrys Vieillot 1817 resident range Synonyms Erythropygia zambesiana Erythropygia ruficauda Erythropygia leucophrys Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Subspecies 2 1 White winged group 2 2 Red backed group 3 Description 4 Distribution and habitat 5 Behaviour 5 1 Breeding 6 References 7 External linksTaxonomy editLouis Pierre Vieillot described the white browed scrub robin in 1817 The specific epithet is derived from the Ancient Greek words leukos white and ǒphrys eyebrow 2 Subspecies edit nbsp front E l zambesiana Sharpe 1882 back E l munda Cabanis 1880 illustrated by Joseph Smit Note yellow leg colour inaccurate For the white browed scrub robin some 9 to 12 subspecies are recognized 3 4 Two groups of subspecies are recognised namely the white winged group of arid country and the red backed group of mesic to moist habitats 4 Intergradation between these is apparently limited to subspecies brunneiceps and vulpina around Simba Kenya Otherwise the variation is clinal though the extremes may be quite distinct 5 White winged group edit C l leucoptera Ruppell 1845 arid woodlands from South Sudan to Lake Turkana and Horn of Africa C l eluta Bowen 1934 dry woodlands from Ethiopia to s Somalia and Tana River Kenya C l vulpina Reichenow 1891 dry woodlands of eastern Kenyan and Tanzanian interior Red backed group edit C l brunneiceps Reichenow 1891 along Rift valley and Crater Highlands to Mt Meru C l sclateri Grote 1930 Mbulu Highlands to Tarangire in Tanzanian interior C l zambesiana Sharpe 1882 West of Rift Valley and along Great Lakes to east coast South Sudan to central Mozambique C l munda Cabanis 1880 southern Gabon to central Angola C l ovamboensis Neumann 1920 parts of Angola Namibia Zambia and Zimbabwe C l leucophrys Vieillot 1817 southern Zimbabwe and Mozambique to southern South Africa Following Clancey the nominate subspecies is sometimes restricted to the Eastern Cape region and the following subspecies are then distinguished from it 6 C l pectoralis A Smith 1836 southern Zimbabwe eastern Botswana and northern South Africa C l simulator Clancey 1964 southern Mozambique and Eswatini C l streptitans Clancey 1975 KwaZulu NatalDescription editThe white browed scrub robin measures 14 0 16 5 cm from bill tip to tail tip and the sexes are alike 4 The pale superciliary stripe is distinct and the crown may be warm brown olive brown or greyish brown The wings are dusky but well marked Greater and lesser wing coverts always white tipped but the secondaries with or without white edging Amount of streaking on the breast is very variable in subsp ovamboensis it is reduced to fine streaking encircling the throat 5 The breast and flanks are washed with a variable amount of tawny buff The mantle and back is brownish to hazel or rufous depending on the subspecies The tail is greyish brown to rufous with a black subterminal band and white feather tips and corners Juveniles are mottled but with the tail pattern of adults 4 Distribution and habitat editThe white browed scrub robin is found in Angola Botswana Burundi Republic of the Congo DRC Djibouti Eswatini Ethiopia Gabon Kenya Malawi Mozambique Namibia Rwanda Somalia South Africa South Sudan Tanzania Uganda Zambia and Zimbabwe Its range spans tropical subtropical and temperate latitudes It is present and usually common in any mesic to arid woodland or savanna provided that there is cover open scrub or thickets 5 In the Eastern Highlands it is only present up to 1 400 metres and in East Africa up to 1 500 metres 4 It is replaced on the Kalahari sands by the Kalahari scrub robin 5 while in the Horn of Africa it is sympatric with the rufous bush chat which lacks any white in the wings Suitable habitat is usually grassy which facilitates nesting Behaviour edit nbsp Visiting termite galleries source source C l pectoralis song in the northern Kruger National Park South Africa Sedentary except in the far south 3 A restless but shy species which mostly sings from concealment inside bushes It hops on the ground when foraging 4 As with some other scrub robin species the tail is regularly flicked and fanned and the wings may be drooped The alarm is a sharp skirr or skee ip note The loud and variable song may include countless sometimes identical repetitions The songs of the respective subspecies are believed to be distinguishable and those of the white winged group are considered to be shriller 4 It feeds on insects especially termites and ants 3 Breeding edit Pairs are monogamous and nest solitarily from early to midsummer The nest is built from dry grass by the female only and is placed some 10 to 20 cm up at the heart of a grass tuft 7 Usually three eggs are laid and these are incubated by the female only The cream coloured eggs measuring 20 x 14 mm are blotched with brown and purple around the thicker end The chicks are reared by both parents Some nests are parasitised by cuckoos References edit BirdLife International 2016 Cercotrichas leucophrys IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22709927A94228013 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22709927A94228013 en Retrieved 11 November 2021 Liddell Henry George Scott Robert 1980 A Greek English Lexicon abridged ed London Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 910207 4 a b c Collar N 2018 White browed Scrub Robin Cercotrichas leucophrys Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive Lynx Edicions Barcelona Retrieved 12 March 2018 a b c d e f g Zimmerman Dale A et al 1999 Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania Princeton University Press pp 236 541 542 ISBN 0691010226 a b c d Irwin Michael P Stuart 1981 The birds of Zimbabwe Salisbury Zimbabwe Quest Pub pp 276 277 ISBN 0 86925 156 2 Chittenden H et al 2012 Roberts geographic variation of southern African birds Cape Town JVBBF pp 204 205 ISBN 978 1 920602 00 0 Tarboton Warwick 2001 A Guide to the Nests and Eggs of Southern African Birds Cape Town Struik p 179 ISBN 1 86872 616 9 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cercotrichas leucophrys White browed scrub robin Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title White browed scrub robin amp oldid 1189607478, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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