Alternative name: Red-tailed Flufftail; Chestnut-tailed Flufftail
- Sarothrura affinis
Identification
14-15cm. Usually the only Flufftail in its habitat.
Male
- Chestnut, short and fluffy tail
- Brown-blackish heavily whitish streaked upperparts with yellowish wash
- Chestnut head and neck, white chin
- antonii with more chestnut on upper breast
Female
- Dull brownish
- Orange-brown wash on face
- Black barring on tail
Similar species
Male told from other sympatric wetland species like Red-chested Flufftail by chestnut tail, female by black barring on tail and orange-brown wash on face.
Distribution
Found from South Africa north to Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Kenya and South Sudan.
Uncommon in its range, very rare in South Sudan and rarely reported in Kenya. Threatened with habitat loss.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
- S. a. antonii:
- South Sudan to eastern Zimbabwe
- S. a. affinis:
Forms a superspecies with Madagascar Flufftail.
Habitat
Dry upland grassland, sometimes with bracken, brambles or near forest edges. Also in crops like lucerne and millet. In South Africa in fynbos.
Behaviour
Forages on clear ground. Feeds on insects, earthworms, small spiders, seeds and some vegetable matter.
Breeding season during the rains. A monogamous, territorial species with permanent pair-bond. The nest is a bowl made of dry grass or rootlets, placed on the ground. Lays 4 eggs, sometimes 5.
A sedentary species with some local movements.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2012. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2012. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 1996. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 3: Hoatzin to Auks. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334207
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Striped Flufftail. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 6 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Striped_Flufftail
