Kingdom Animalia Class Aves Family Muscicapidae Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Order Passeriformes Genus Thamnolaea | |
Similar Thamnolaea, Mocking cliff chat, Grey‑winged robin‑chat, White‑winged cliff chat, White‑fronted black chat | ||
The white-crowned cliff chat (Thamnolaea coronata) is a species of chat in the family Muscicapidae which occurs in rocky habitats in much of western Sub-Saharan Africa.
Contents
Description
There are three subspecies and only the nominate subspecies has the white crown of the white-crowned cliff chat, although it is individually variable in extent and sometime consists of just a few feathers. The males are black above with white shoulder patches. These patches are largest in the subspecies T.c. cavernicola, smaller in T.c. bambarae, and absent in the nominate. They all have rufous coloring on the belly and vent, with a pale line separating the back of the breast from the rest of the underparts on T.c. cavernicola, lacking on T.c. bambarae, and wider on T.c. coronata. Additionally, T.c. cavernicola has a rufous rump. The females are similar to males and are duller, lacking any white shoulder patches or white borders on underparts. The female T.c. coronata has a paler head and the whole of her underparts are rufous. Length is 20 cm.
Voice
A melodious rich and far-carrying song with lots of mimicked phrases; often pairs duet.
Distribution, subspecies and taxonomy
The three currently recognised subspecies are listed below with their distributions:
It is sometimes considered a subspecies of the mocking cliff chat. Especially as many birds, even within the range of T.c. coronata, do not have white crowns.
Habitat and habits
The white-crowned cliff chat is found in inselbergs, cliffs, and escarpments in savanna.
Usually seen in pairs. Often slowly raises and lowers its tail, fanning it as it raises it vertically over the bird's back.