Oenanthe pileata
TAXONOMY
Oenanthe pileata Gmelin, 1789, Cape of Good Hope.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Traquet du Cap; German: Erdschmдtzer; Spanish:
Collalba Encapotada.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
7.1 in (18 cm); 1.1 oz (32.5 g). Brown upperparts with black
tail and rufous-tinged flight feathers. Black crown, bill, cheek,
and chest collar. White brow stripe, throat, and breast with
rosy-buff belly.
DISTRIBUTION
Africa from Kenya and Angola southwards to the Cape.
HABITAT
Dry grassy plains, especially overgrazed or burnt areas with a
few bushes or termite mounds.
BEHAVIOR
Solitary but often common, scattered over open ground, perching
on small mounds or hopping over short grass; wags tail and
flicks wings, bobs on landing after low, fast flight.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Insects, especially ants, also flies, beetles, locusts, termites, and
caterpillars.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Monogamous, territorial, nesting in hole in ground or termite
mound; nest of straw, grass, and leaves; three to four or six
eggs, incubation not established.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.
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