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| − | ;Motacilla capensis | + | ;[[:Category:Motacilla|Motacilla]] capensis |
| − | [[Image:Cape_Wagtail.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Max Holdt<br/>Location: Kleinmond, Cape, South Africa.]] | + | [[Image:Cape_Wagtail.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Max Holdt <br />Location: Kleinmond, Cape, South Africa.]] |
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | + | L. 20 cm, Wt. 20 g<br /> | |
| − | |||
| − | L. 20 cm | ||
| − | Wt. 20 g<br/> | ||
Gregarious | Gregarious | ||
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*White edges to wing feathers | *White edges to wing feathers | ||
*Dark grey-brown tail | *Dark grey-brown tail | ||
| + | ====Other Names==== | ||
| + | Deutsch: Kapstelze<br/> | ||
| + | Afrikaans: Gewone Kwikkie | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| + | Sub-Saharan [[Africa]]: [[DRC]], [[Uganda]] and [[Kenya]] in the north to southern [[South Africa]]. | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Almost anywhere where there is water with open ground nearby, from fynbos to forest edge and through alpine grasslands to the Namib Desert. | Almost anywhere where there is water with open ground nearby, from fynbos to forest edge and through alpine grasslands to the Namib Desert. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | + | ''Motacilla capensis'' has three subspecies: | |
| − | + | *''M. c. simplicissima'' | |
| − | + | :*Southern [[DRC]], [[Zambia]], [[Angola]], Caprivi (north-eastern [[Namibia]]), northern [[Botswana]] and extreme western [[Zimbabwe]]. | |
| + | :*Swamp-dwelling form; more olive than nominate, underparts yellowish, dark breast spot rather than breast band. | ||
| + | *''M. c. capensis'' | ||
| + | :*South-western [[Angola]], [[Namibia]], southeastern [[Botswana]], [[Zimbabwe]], [[South Africa]], [[Lesotho]], [[Swaziland]], and parts of southern [[Mozambique]]. | ||
| + | :* As described under '''Identification'''. | ||
| + | *''M. c. wellsi'' | ||
| + | :*South-western [[Kenya]], [[Uganda]], eastern [[DRC]] and [[Tanzania]]. | ||
==Behavior== | ==Behavior== | ||
====Diet==== | ====Diet==== | ||
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==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Motacilla+capensis}} | {{GSearch|Motacilla+capensis}} | ||
| − | [[Category:Birds]] | + | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Motacilla]] |
Revision as of 16:23, 24 August 2008
- Motacilla capensis
Identification
L. 20 cm, Wt. 20 g
Gregarious
- Dull olive grey
- Dull off-white below
- Blackish breast band
- White supercilium
- White edges to wing feathers
- Dark grey-brown tail
Other Names
Deutsch: Kapstelze
Afrikaans: Gewone Kwikkie
Distribution
Sub-Saharan Africa: DRC, Uganda and Kenya in the north to southern South Africa.
Habitat
Almost anywhere where there is water with open ground nearby, from fynbos to forest edge and through alpine grasslands to the Namib Desert.
Taxonomy
Motacilla capensis has three subspecies:
- M. c. simplicissima
- M. c. capensis
- South-western Angola, Namibia, southeastern Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, and parts of southern Mozambique.
- As described under Identification.
- M. c. wellsi
Behavior
Diet
Usually forages by walking purposefully, picking or darting after insects. Also wades through shallow water, picking prey in or over water. Mainly insects, dead or alive, including moths, dragonflies, ants, caterpillars, beetles, mosquitoes and termites.
Breeding
Solitary nester retaining same mate for successive breeding attempts and will attack its reflection in glass or metal during breeding season. Nest has a bulky base built of grasses, weeds, roots, pine needles and seedpods.
