Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Cape longclaw

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Kingdom
  
Order
  
Passeriformes

Genus
  
Macronyx

Higher classification
  
Longclaw

Phylum
  
Chordata

Family
  
Scientific name
  
Macronyx capensis

Rank
  
Species


Similar
  
Longclaw, Bird, Cape wagtail, African pipit, Greater striped swallow

Cape longclaw macronyx capensis


The Cape longclaw or orange-throated longclaw (Macronyx capensis) is a passerine bird in the family Motacillidae, which comprises the longclaws, pipits and wagtails. It occurs in Southern Africa in Zimbabwe and southern and eastern South Africa. This species is found in coastal and mountain grassland, often near water.

Contents

Cape longclaw Mahikeng Birding Blog Cape Longclaw The bird with bright orange bib

The Cape longclaw is a 19–20 cm long. The adult male has a grey head with a buff supercilium and a streaked blackish back. It has a bright orange gorget, black breast band and otherwise yellow underparts. The female is duller, having a yellow throat and much weaker breast band. The juvenile has a dirty yellow throat, indistinct breast band, and yellowish white underparts.

Cape longclaw wwwbiodiversityexplorerorgbirdsmotacillidaeim

The Cape longclaw is usually found in pairs throughout the year. It feeds on the ground on insects and some seeds. The song is a musical cheewit cheewit, the contact call is tsweet, and there is also a mewling alarm call. Typically not found in larger groups than two, a breeding pair or more often singly. Another behavioural characteristic is the tendency of birds to stand on top of stones, anthills or large grass clumps. While doing so birds stand upright with their breast extended.

Cape longclaw 8371capelongclaw1327wjpg

This species has a striking resemblance to the unrelated icterid meadowlarks, grassland birds of the Americas. This is presumably due to convergent evolution.

Cape longclaw Macronyx capensis Cape longclaw Orangethroated longclaw

Cape longclaw rietvlei birdwatcher


References

Cape longclaw Wikipedia


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