African Yellow Warbler - BirdForum Opus

Alternative names: Yellow Flycatcher Warbler, Dark-capped Yellow Warbler.

Photo by Alan Manson
Midmar Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, October 2007

Iduna natalensis

Chloropeta natalensis

Identification

Length 14-15 cm, mass 12 g. Upperparts olive-brown; tail and flight feathers darker. Underparts bright yellow. Bill dark, eyes brown, legs and feet slate-grey.
Sexes similar.

Distribution

Sub-Saharan Africa: Cameroon to Ethiopia and eastern South Africa.

Taxonomy

There are three or four subspecies; There is variation in the plumage coloration (different shades of brown and yellow).

Subspecies^[1]

• I. n. batesi:

• Nigeria east to northern Democratic Republic of the Congo

• I. n. massaica:

• Southern South Sudan and Ethiopia to northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, and northwestern and northeastern Tanzania

• I. n. major:

• Gabon and Angola to southern Zaire and northern Zambia

• I. n. natalensis:

• Southern Zambia and southern Tanzania to eastern South Africa

Formerly placed in genus Chloropeta

Habitat

Rank vegetation along watercourses and forest edges and near wetlands.

Behaviour

Usually found singly or in pairs, these birds are inconspicuous unless singing.

Diet

They forage for invertebrates low down in the vegetation.

Breeding

The nest is a cup of grass blades made within 2 m of the ground; 2-3 eggs are laid.

Vocalisation

Song rich and distinctive.

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
2. Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ & Ryan PG (eds) 2005. Robert's Birds of Southern Africa, 7th edition. Cape Town: John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. ISBN 0620340533
3. Lepage D. 2007. Avibase. Search for "Chloropeta natalensis" downloaded 29 October 2007.

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) African Yellow Warbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 20 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/African_Yellow_Warbler

External Links

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