- Sarothrura boehmi
Identification
Length 17 cm, mass 21-42 g. The tail is very short and the eyes are black.
Adult male: The head, upper mantle and upper breast are reddish chestnut and the chin and upper throat are white. Upper parts are sooty black with two white stripes on each feather.
Adult female: The head and upper parts are sooty black with white scallops and bars.
These secretive birds are usually located and identified by their hootong call; a series of 20-30 deep hoots, each lasting about one second and repeated every two seconds.
Distribution
Tropical Africa, south of 5°N. Core range is Zambia and southern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Taxonomy
Monotypic.
Habitat
Wetlands and moist grasslands.
Behaviour
Foraging behaviour poorly known; eats small seeds and small insects.
Monogamous and territorial. The nest is a pad or shallow cup of grass; live grass is pulled over the nest to form a roof. Two to five eggs are laid and incubated for 14-18 days. Chicks leave the nest after about two days and begin foraging for food within five days of hatching.
References
- Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ & Ryan PG (eds) 2005. Robert's Birds of Southern Africa, 7th edition. John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, South Africa. ISBN 0620340533
- Sinclair I & Ryan P. 2003. Birds of Africa south of the Sahara. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0620207299
