Cercomela
Encyclopedia
Cercomela is a genus of small passerine
bird
of the Old World flycatcher
family
Muscicapidae. It comprises nine species of chats
.
and Indian Chats are often found near human habitation.
This is a mainly Africa
n group, although the Blackstart’s
range also extends just into the Middle East
, and the Indian Chat is a south Asia
n species.
The typical Cercomela plumage is fairly plain grey or brown upperparts and paler underparts. The tail pattern is often distinctive, and may be useful in distinguishing the African species. The long legs and feet are black and the bill is short and straight. The sexes are similar in plumage.
These are terrestrial birds, most nesting on or near the ground, and laying up to four eggs in a cup nest; a few Cercomela species use rock crevices or walls as nest sites.
These birds are insectivore
s, and forage on the ground for their prey.
Most species have vocalisations including typical chat "chak-chak" or similar calls.
Most Cercomela chats are common within their ranges, but insufficient data exists to determine the status of the Sombre Chat in Ethiopia
.
Passerine
A passerine is a bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds or, less accurately, as songbirds, the passerines form one of the most diverse terrestrial vertebrate orders: with over 5,000 identified species, it has roughly...
bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
of the Old World flycatcher
Old World flycatcher
The Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae is a large family of small passerine birds mostly restricted to the Old World. These are mainly small arboreal insectivores, many of which, as the name implies, take their prey on the wing.-Characteristics:...
family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
Muscicapidae. It comprises nine species of chats
Chat (bird)
Chats are a group of small Old World insectivorous birds formerly classed as members of the thrush family Turdidae, but now considered Old World flycatchers....
.
Overview
These are typically birds of open dry habitats such as open scrub, stony or rocky areas and short grassland. The FamiliarFamiliar Chat
The Familiar Chat, Cercomela familiaris, is a small passerine bird of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae. It is a common resident breeder in Africa south of the Sahara in rocky and mountainous habitat and around human habitation.-Description:...
and Indian Chats are often found near human habitation.
This is a mainly Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n group, although the Blackstart’s
Blackstart
The Blackstart, Cercomela melanura, is a chat found in desert regions in North Africa, the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula.It is a 14–16 cm long bird named for its black tail, which is frequently fanned; the rest of its plumage is bluish-grey or grey-brown...
range also extends just into the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, and the Indian Chat is a south Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n species.
The typical Cercomela plumage is fairly plain grey or brown upperparts and paler underparts. The tail pattern is often distinctive, and may be useful in distinguishing the African species. The long legs and feet are black and the bill is short and straight. The sexes are similar in plumage.
These are terrestrial birds, most nesting on or near the ground, and laying up to four eggs in a cup nest; a few Cercomela species use rock crevices or walls as nest sites.
These birds are insectivore
Insectivore
An insectivore is a type of carnivore with a diet that consists chiefly of insects and similar small creatures. An alternate term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of eating insects....
s, and forage on the ground for their prey.
Most species have vocalisations including typical chat "chak-chak" or similar calls.
Most Cercomela chats are common within their ranges, but insufficient data exists to determine the status of the Sombre Chat in Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
.
Species in taxonomic order
- Sickle-winged ChatSickle-winged ChatThe Sickle-winged Chat, Cercomela sinuata, is a small passerine bird of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae endemic to southern Africa. It is a common resident breeder in South Africa and Lesotho, and is also found in southernmost areas of Botswana and Namibia. Its habitat is Karoo...
, Cercomela sinuata - Karoo ChatKaroo ChatThe Karoo Chat, Cercomela schlegelii, is a small passerine bird of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae. It is a common resident breeder in southwesternmost Angola, western Namibia and western South Africa...
, Cercomela schlegelii - Tractrac ChatTractrac ChatThe Tractrac Chat, Cercomela tractrac, is a small passerine bird of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae. It is a common resident breeder in southernmost Angola, western Namibia and western South Africa....
, Cercomela tractrac - Familiar ChatFamiliar ChatThe Familiar Chat, Cercomela familiaris, is a small passerine bird of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae. It is a common resident breeder in Africa south of the Sahara in rocky and mountainous habitat and around human habitation.-Description:...
, Cercomela familiaris - Brown-tailed ChatBrown-tailed ChatThe Brown-tailed Rock Chat is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family.It is found in Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, and Uganda....
, Cercomela scotocerca - Indian Chat, Cercomela fusca
- Sombre ChatSombre ChatThe Sombre Rock Chat is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family.It is found in Ethiopia and Somalia.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.-References:...
, Cercomela dubia - BlackstartBlackstartThe Blackstart, Cercomela melanura, is a chat found in desert regions in North Africa, the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula.It is a 14–16 cm long bird named for its black tail, which is frequently fanned; the rest of its plumage is bluish-grey or grey-brown...
, Cercomela melanura - Moorland ChatMoorland ChatThe Moorland Chat , also known as the Alpine Chat or Hill Chat, is a species of songbird in the Old World Flycatcher family. It is endemic to north-east Africa where it is common in its habitat. It lives at high altitudes on moors and grassland, usually above 3,400 m , but can live as low as...
, Cercomela sordida