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Alternative name: Alpine Chat
- Pinarochroa sordida
Cercomela sordida
Identification
Length 14-15cm. It has a short tail and long legs. Bright white outer tail feathers (seen in flight only) are diagnostic. Otherwise, overall a small, drab gray bird with lighter underparts. This bird has a yellow gape which is not referred to in some books of the region. Juvenile is faintly barred above, with slight mottling on breast.
Similar Species
- more elongate, less dumpy and often perches with a less upright stance (more horizontally)
- generally has less contrast between dark head and paler underparts including throat than Moorland Chat
- has outer tail feathers rufous instead of white
- tail with reddish instead of white in the tail
- may have a chestnut auricular patch (uniform and darker in Moorland)
- lacks the yellowish gape line which may be present in Moorland Chat (especially ernesti)
(Based on [2] and analysis of images here and at [3])
Distribution
North-east Africa
Taxonomy
Has been placed in genus Cercomela.
Subspecies
Clements recognises the following subspecies [1]:
- P. s. sordida: High altitude moorlands of Ethiopia
- P. s. ernesti: highlands of extreme eastern Uganda and of western and central Kenya
- P. s. olimotiensis: High altitude moorlands of northern Tanzania (Crater Highlands)
- P. s. hypospodia: Northern Tanzania (Mt. Kilimanjaro moorlands)
Habitat
Common on high altitude (mostly above 3400m.) moors and grassland.
Behaviour
Hops along ground, with short flights to perches. Flicks tail and wings.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Stevenson, T. & J Fanshawe 2020. Birds of East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi) - second edition. Helm Field Guides, Christooher Helm London. ISBN 978-1-4081-5736-7
- Macauley Library at https://www.macaulaylibrary.org
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Moorland Chat. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 18 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Moorland_Chat
