White-crowned cliff 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.

White-crowned cliff chat
White-crowned form of the male
of the nominate subspecies
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Muscicapidae
Genus: Thamnolaea
Species:
T. coronata
Binomial name
Thamnolaea coronata
(Reichenow, 1902)[1]
Synonyms

Myrmecocichla coronata Reichenow, 1902

Description

There are three subspecies of which only the nominate subspecies has the white crown, which is also individually variable in extent and sometimes limited to a few white feathers. The males are black above with white shoulder epaulets. The epaulets are largest in the subspecies T. c. cavernicola, smaller in T. c. bambarae, and variable but sometimes absent in the nominate. Males of all subspecies have rufous plumage on the belly and vent. A pale bar separates the breast from the rest of the underparts on T. c. cavernicola, but is lacking on T. c. bambarae, and wider on the nominate subspecies, T. c. coronata. Additionally, T. c. cavernicola has a rufous rump. The females are similar to males but duller, lacking any white shoulder epaulets or a white band over the chest. The female of the nominate subspecies, T. c. coronata, has a paler head while the whole of her underpart plumage is rufous. Length is 20 cm.[2]

Voice

A melodious rich and far-carrying song with many mimicked phrases; often pairs duet.[2]

Distribution, subspecies and taxonomy

The three currently recognised subspecies are listed below with their distributions:[1][3]

  • Thamnolaea coronata bambarae Bates, 1928 ― southern Mauritania, eastern Senegal, and southwestern Mali
  • Thamnolaea coronata cavernicola Bates, 1933 ― central Mali in the Mopti region
  • Thamnolaea coronata coronata Reichenow, 1902 ― northern Ivory Coast and eastern Burkina Faso east patchily to western South Sudan

It is sometimes considered a subspecies of the mocking cliff chat,[3] especially since many male birds, including individuals of the nominate subspecies, T. c. coronata, do not have the distinctive white crown.[2]

Habitat and habits

The white-crowned cliff chat is found in inselbergs, cliffs, and escarpments in savanna.[2]

Usually seen in pairs. Often slowly raises and lowers its tail, fanning it as it raises it vertically over the bird's back.[2]

References
  1. "Thamnolaea coronata Reichenow, 1902". Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) (https://www.itis.gov). Retrieved 2016-11-20.
  2. Borrow, Nik; Demey, Ron (2001). Birds of Western Africa. A & C Black. p. 615. ISBN 0-7136-3959-8.
  3. "Mocking Cliff-chat (Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris)". HBW Alive. Lynx Edicions. Retrieved 2016-11-20.
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