| Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
*White edges to wing feathers | *White edges to wing feathers | ||
*Dark grey-brown tail | *Dark grey-brown tail | ||
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| − | |||
| − | |||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
Sub-Saharan [[Africa]]: [[DRC]], [[Uganda]] and [[Kenya]] in the north to southern [[South Africa]]. | Sub-Saharan [[Africa]]: [[DRC]], [[Uganda]] and [[Kenya]] in the north to southern [[South Africa]]. | ||
| Line 28: | Line 25: | ||
*''M. c. wellsi'' | *''M. c. wellsi'' | ||
:*South-western [[Kenya]], [[Uganda]], eastern [[DRC]] and [[Tanzania]]. | :*South-western [[Kenya]], [[Uganda]], eastern [[DRC]] and [[Tanzania]]. | ||
| − | == | + | ==Behaviour== |
| − | + | 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. | |
| − | 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. | |
| − | 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. | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Motacilla+capensis}} | {{GSearch|Motacilla+capensis}} | ||
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Motacilla]] | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Motacilla]] | ||
Revision as of 15:09, 16 January 2009
- 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
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
Behaviour
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.
