White-crowned cliff chat

White-crowned cliff chat
White-crowned form of the male
of the nominate subspecies
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Muscicapidae
Genus: Thamnolaea
Species:
T. coronata
Binomial name
Thamnolaea coronata
Synonyms

Myrmecocichla coronata Reichenow, 1902

The white-crowned cliff chat (Thamnolaea coronata) is a species of chat in theMuscicapidae family, found in rocky habitats across much of western Sub-Saharan Africa.

Taxonomy

The white-crowned cliff chat was formally described in 1902 by the German ornithologist Anton Reichenow, based on a specimen collected in Togo, West Africa. He placed it in the genus Thamnolaea and coined the binomial name Thamnolaea coronata.[2][3] The genus name combines the Ancient Greek thamnos, meaning "bush", with laios, meaning "thrush". The specific epithet coronata is Latin for "crowned".[4]

Two subspecies are recognised:[5]

  • T. c. coronata Reichenow, 1902 – north Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso to west Sudan
  • T. c. kordofanensis Wettstein, 1916 – central Sudan

It is often considered a subspecies of the mocking cliff chat,[6] especially since many male birds, including individuals of the nominate subspecies, T. c. coronata, lack the distinctive white crown.[7]

Description

There are two subspecies, of which only the nominate subspecies has the white crown. The crown is also variable in extent, sometimes limited to just a few white feathers. Males are black above with white shoulder epaulets, which are the largest in T. c. cavernicola, smaller in T. c. bambarae, and variable --- sometimes absent --- in the nominate subspecies,T. c. cavernicola. Males of all subspecies have rufous plumage on the belly and vent. A pale bar separates the breast from the rest of the underparts in T. c. cavernicola, but is absent in T. c. bambarae, and wider in the nominate subspecies. Additionally, T. c. cavernicola has a rufous rump.

Females resemble males but are duller, lacking the white shoulder epaulets and the white chest band. The female of the nominate subspecies, T. c. coronata, has a paler head, and her entire underpart plumage is rufous. The species reaches a length is 20 cm.[7]

It has a melodious, rich and far-carrying song with many mimicked phrases; and pairs often duet.[7]

Distribution and habitat

The white-crowned cliff chat is found in inselbergs, cliffs, and escarpments within savanna habitats.[7]

It is usually seen in pairs and often slowly raises and lowers its tail, fanning it as it lifs it vertically over its back.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Thamnolaea coronata Reichenow, 1902". Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) (https://www.itis.gov). Retrieved 2016-11-20. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ Reichenow, Anton (1902). "Thamnolaea coronata Rehw. n. sp". Ornithologische Monatsberichte (in German). 10: [157-158].
  3. ^ Mayr, Ernst; Paynter, Raymond A. Jr, eds. (1964). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 10. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 121.
  4. ^ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 383, 118. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
  5. ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (July 2023). "Chats, Old World flycatchers". IOC World Bird List Version 13.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Mocking Cliff-chat (Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris)". HBW Alive. Lynx Edicions. Retrieved 2016-11-20.
  7. ^ a b c d e Borrow, Nik; Demey, Ron (2001). Birds of Western Africa. A & C Black. p. 615. ISBN 0-7136-3959-8.