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Difference between revisions of "Rockrunner" - BirdForum Opus

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'''Alternative name: Rockrunner'''
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[[Image:Damara_Rock-jumper.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Damara Rock-jumper<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Max+Holdt|Max Holdt}}<br />Windhoek, [[Namibia]]]]
 
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'''Alternative name: Damara Rock-jumper'''
;[[:Category:Chaetops|Chaetops]] pycnopygius
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;[[:Category:Achaetops|Achaetops]] pycnopygius
 
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''Chaetops pycnopygius''
''Achaetops pycnopygius''
 
[[Image:Damara_Rock-jumper.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Max Holdt <br />Location: Windhoek, [[Namibia]] ]]
 
  
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
 
Length 16-17 cm.
 
Length 16-17 cm.
  
'''Adult''': The back is dark and heavily streaked, the breast white with black spots, and the belly rich rufous.
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'''Adult''': The back is dark and heavily streaked, the breast white with black spots, and the belly rich rufous. The female is more extensive tawny on belly. Juveniles are duller and have weaker markings.
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
[[Namibia]] and [[south-western [[Angola]].
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[[Namibia]] and south-western [[Angola]].<br />
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Common in parts of its range.
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
Despite its placement in [[:Category:Chaetops|Chaetops]]<sup>[[#References|2]],[[#References|3]]</sup> and structral similarities, molecular evidence suggests that the [[Damara Rock-jumper]] or Rockrunner is not closely related to the [[Rufous Rock-jumper|Rufous]] and [[Orange-breasted Rock-jumper]]s, but is related to the [[Cape Grassbird]] ''Sphenoeacus afer'' in the [[:Category:Sylviidae|Sylviidae]]<sup>[[#References|1]],[[#References|5]]</sup>. This is why some authorities<sup>[[#References|4]],[[#References|5]]</sup> place this species in genus ''Achaetops''.
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This species was formerly placed in the genus [[:Category:Chaetops|Chaetops]]<sup>[[#References|3]]</sup> due to structural similarities. However, molecular evidence shows that the Rockrunner is not closely related to the [[Cape Rockjumper|Cape]] and [[Drakensberg Rockjumper]]s, but is related to the [[Cape Grassbird]] ''Sphenoeacus afer'' in the [[:Category:Sylviidae|Sylviidae]]<sup>[[#References|1]],[[#References|5]]</sup>.
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====Subspecies====
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There are two subspecies<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>:
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*''A. p. pycnopygius'' in [[Namibia]] and coastal southwest [[Angola]]
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*''A. p. spadix'' in Huila and Namibe escarpement in southwest [[Angola]]
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[[Image:IMG 0165 - Rockrunner - R Wienand 1 .jpg|thumb|450px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|safariranger|safariranger}}<br />Waterberg Plateau Lodge, [[Namibia]], 9 December 2007]]
  
There are two subspecies:
 
*''C. p. pycnopygius''
 
*''C. p. spadix''
 
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 
Rocky slopes.
 
Rocky slopes.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
Usually found single or in pairs, on the ground or on rocks; runs rather than flies. Forages on the ground, mainly for insects.
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Usually found singly or in pairs, on the ground or on rocks; runs rather than flies. Forages on the ground, mainly for insects.
 
====Breeding====
 
====Breeding====
 
Monogamous and territorial. The nest is an open cup built of grass in a dense grass tussock. Two or three eggs are laid November to March.
 
Monogamous and territorial. The nest is an open cup built of grass in a dense grass tussock. Two or three eggs are laid November to March.
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
# Beresford P, Barker FK, Ryan PG & Crowe TM. 2005. ''African endemics span the tree of songbirds (Passeri): molecular systematics of several evolutionary ‘enigmas’''. Proc. R. Soc. B 272, 849–858.
 
# Beresford P, Barker FK, Ryan PG & Crowe TM. 2005. ''African endemics span the tree of songbirds (Passeri): molecular systematics of several evolutionary ‘enigmas’''. Proc. R. Soc. B 272, 849–858.
# Clements JF. 2007. ''The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World''. 6th ed., with updates to October 2008. Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019
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#{{Ref-Clements6thOct22}}# Dickinson EC (ed.) 2003. ''The Howard & Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World''. 3rd ed. Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. ISBN 9780691117010
# Dickinson EC (ed.) 2003. ''The Howard & Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World''. 3rd ed. Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. ISBN 9780691117010
 
 
# Gill F & Wright M. 2008. ''Birds of the World: Recommended English Names''. Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ, USA. 2006. ISBN 9780691128276  Update (2008) downloaded from [http://worldbirdnames.org/names.html http://worldbirdnames.org/names.html].
 
# Gill F & Wright M. 2008. ''Birds of the World: Recommended English Names''. Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ, USA. 2006. ISBN 9780691128276  Update (2008) downloaded from [http://worldbirdnames.org/names.html http://worldbirdnames.org/names.html].
# 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==External Links==
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# 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
{{GSearch|chaetops+pycnopygius}}
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==External Links==
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Chaetops]]
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{{GSearch|"Achaetops pycnopygius" {{!}} " Chaetops pycnopygius"  {{!}} Rockrunner {{!}} "Damara Rock-jumper"}}
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{{GS-checked}}1
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<br />
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<br />
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[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Achaetops]]

Latest revision as of 20:08, 14 August 2023

Damara Rock-jumper
Photo © by Max Holdt
Windhoek, Namibia

Alternative name: Damara Rock-jumper

Achaetops pycnopygius

Chaetops pycnopygius

Identification

Length 16-17 cm.

Adult: The back is dark and heavily streaked, the breast white with black spots, and the belly rich rufous. The female is more extensive tawny on belly. Juveniles are duller and have weaker markings.

Distribution

Namibia and south-western Angola.
Common in parts of its range.

Taxonomy

This species was formerly placed in the genus Chaetops3 due to structural similarities. However, molecular evidence shows that the Rockrunner is not closely related to the Cape and Drakensberg Rockjumpers, but is related to the Cape Grassbird Sphenoeacus afer in the Sylviidae1,5.

Subspecies

There are two subspecies[2]:

  • A. p. pycnopygius in Namibia and coastal southwest Angola
  • A. p. spadix in Huila and Namibe escarpement in southwest Angola
Photo © by safariranger
Waterberg Plateau Lodge, Namibia, 9 December 2007

Habitat

Rocky slopes.

Behaviour

Usually found singly or in pairs, on the ground or on rocks; runs rather than flies. Forages on the ground, mainly for insects.

Breeding

Monogamous and territorial. The nest is an open cup built of grass in a dense grass tussock. Two or three eggs are laid November to March.

References

  1. Beresford P, Barker FK, Ryan PG & Crowe TM. 2005. African endemics span the tree of songbirds (Passeri): molecular systematics of several evolutionary ‘enigmas’. Proc. R. Soc. B 272, 849–858.
  2. 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/
  3. Dickinson EC (ed.) 2003. The Howard & Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. 3rd ed. Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. ISBN 9780691117010
  4. Gill F & Wright M. 2008. Birds of the World: Recommended English Names. Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ, USA. 2006. ISBN 9780691128276 Update (2008) downloaded from http://worldbirdnames.org/names.html.
  5. 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

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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