Chirping with Kloof Conservancy – Red-Capped Robin-Chat
Find out more about this feathered Highway resident below.
If there is a list of loved birds, then the red-capped robin-chat would be right near the top. Bird experts keep changing the names of birds, but for most people in the Upper Highway, this endearing bird will always be known as the Natal robin.
ALSO READ: Chirping with Kloof Conservancy – Bar-throated Apalis
Description
The red-capped robin-chat is a medium-sized bird at an average weight of 32g and an overall length of 16,5cm. It has two main colours, both of which are very vibrant. The underparts, tail, throat and face are a bright pumpkin orange, and the wings and back are a metallic steel blue. The legs and feet are a pinkish grey. It has bulbous, dark brown eyes and a black bill. All in all, it is a very pretty-looking bird. Males and females are alike and can’t easily be told apart.
Distribution
The red-capped robin-chat is found along the eastern coast from East London northwards, through to Mpumalanga Province.
Habitat
This species is resident in the Highway area all year round and is commonly found in coastal, dune and riverine forests. It enjoys well-wooded gardens where it will often be heard particularly early in the morning.
Feeding
The Red-capped Robin Chat feeds primarily on insects such as beetles, termites and crickets but it also enjoys the fruit of many indigenous species such as the asparagus fern and the pigeonwood.
Breeding
Red-capped Robin Chats are monogamous and pair for life and they build a small open-cup nest which is usually placed in a hollow on a tree. Egg-laying occurs between September and January when two to four eggs are laid. Incubation is approximately two weeks and is all done by the female but both adults care and feed the young.
Predators and threats
This species is listed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as it has few enemies and has adapted well to human encroachment of its territory.
Local information
This is quite a shy bird and the best places to find it is along the forest edges of our many riverine forests. If you do spot one, then it is best to stand still as movement easily spooks them.
Interesting facts
The Red-capped Robin chat has a very simple and gentle ‘see-saw see-saw’ call but it its ability to mimic other species that makes this bird special. It has been recorded as able to sing at least 21 different melodious phrases and can even mimic a dog barking. In the Highway area it is not unusual to hear it do a very credible rendition of the call of the ferocious sounding Crowned Eagle, not bad for a relatively small bird.
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