This month we look at a bird that, like the Karoo thrush (Karoolyster), is a common species in many gardens.
This is the Cape robin-chat (Afrikaans: gewone Janfrederik).
Both the robin and thrush belong to the same family – Muscicapidae which is the thrushes, robins and chats – both being largely ground dwelling birds, with slender bills and having beautiful songs.
The Cape robin-chat is quite distinctive, having a dark greyish back and belly with a bright orange chest, a prominent white eyebrow and an orange and black tail which it frequently raises after coming to a stop or landing on a branch.
Both the male and female look alike but the juvenile is completely different – like most juveniles in this family it is duller, lacks any eyebrow and has buffy spots above and below.
The juvenile confuses many; people often regard it as a species they have not seen before.
Like the Karoo thrush, the Cape robin-chat feeds on the ground and likes areas where there is leaf-litter, turning over the leaves to find insects and probing the soil for grubs and earthworms.
It can be frequently seen on lawns and loves to come to bird feeders with fruit and regularly bathes in bird baths. They also inhabit thickets and forest and riparian edges.
Like the thrush it can be heard at first light and is one of the birds that form part of what birders call the “dawn chorus”. They also like to sing at dusk. The song is flute-like with numerous whistles and variation of other high-pitched notes and phrases.
Click on this link to listen to some fascinating song variations recorded by Lynette Rudman (Listen here).
The Afrikaans name, Janfrederik, has been derived based on the rhythm and syllables of the call (turr-da-da, Jan-fred-erik).
These birds are good mimics and have been known to imitate the calls of other garden birds, including the Karoo thrush – so it pays to listen carefully just to be sure you are listening to a genuine Cape robin-chat!
Here is another link to a recording by Lynette Rudman highlighting some interesting imitations (Listen here).
The beauty and wonder of these birds makes it a real delight to keep a look out for them in your garden, and come spring-time, males will be singing loudly and incessantly setting up territories, looking for mates and perhaps looking for a place to build a nest and breed in your garden!
– Doug Harebottle, chair of the Gariep Bird Club.
Write to him or join the club at birdclubgariep@gmail.com
