Barred Wren-Warbler Calamonastes fasciolatus Scientific name definitions

14 cm; 11–14 g. A fairly large, dark-coloured warbler, with longish tail often held cocked. Male nominate race in breeding plumage has cinnamon-brown crown and upperparts, slightly warmer brown on rump; median and greater upperwing-coverts with narrow white tips (forming double row of white spots on folded wing); tail faintly barred, feathers with narrow whitish tips and buffy margins; face and chin whitish, finely barred black; throat and upper breast brown, sometimes with buffy spots (especially at side), lower breast and belly whitish with dark grey-brown bars, remainder of underparts tawny-buff with dark bars; undertail-coverts with brown chevrons; underwing-coverts buffy with brown subterminal bars; iris grey-brown; bill blackish-brown; legs pinkish-brown. Non-breeding male has throat and upper breast buffy white, finely barred with black; undertail-coverts plain. Distinguished from C. stierlingi mainly by buffy (not white) belly, more diffuse barring below, unbarred undertail-coverts, and grey-brown (not orange) eyes. Female is like non-breeding male, but extent of barring varies, absent from throat and belly of some females. Juvenile is more rufous above than female and non-breeding male, has underparts washed yellow and barring duller, broader and more diffuse. Race europhilus is darker above, more heavily barred below, and more buffy on throat, flanks and vent than nominate; pallidior is paler, virtually lacks barring on underparts.

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Semi-arid rocky areas of S Namibia and W South Africa.

Confined to Kalahari-Highveld biome; occurs in semi-arid savanna and woodland, mainly in acacia (Acacia) savanna, but also in broadleaf woodland; avoids tall woodland favoured by C. stierlingi. Prefers areas with dense trees and shrubs, and typically at least some ground cover.

Mostly resident. Reportedly moves from miombo (Brachystegia) into mixed woodland in winter in Zimbabwe; in drought years, moves out of C Kalahari and occurs farther E than usual in Zimbabwe.

Diet mainly insects, including caterpillars (Lepidoptera). Usually in pairs or small groups; occasionally joins mixed-species parties. Forages by gleaning, mainly inside bushes and trees; less often on ground than C. stierlingi. Climbs up inside bushes, then flies to base of next bush.

Male song, frequently from exposed perch on top of small tree, a high-pitched, frog-like, slightly trilled “prreep-prreep-prreep”, notes 0·4–1·1 seconds apart; also faster, high-pitched “whit-up whit-up whit-up”, like squeak of a bicycle pump, and a slower, repeated, piping “weee-ti-ti-ti”; occasionally wing-snaps. When displaying, male gives drawn-out, insect-like “keeeeer-rrrrrrrr”.

Breeds Nov–Mar. Probably monogamous; solitary, territorial. Male displays by flying straight up, then swooping down with purring wings; on landing, cocks and fans tail. Nest is thick-walled and ball-shaped, built inside an envelope of live leaves sewn together with spider webs; consists of felted plant down, fine grass and rootlets, with side entrance at top partly covered by projecting leaf; usually 1–3 m (rarely to 7 m) above ground. Clutch 2–4 eggs (average 2·9); may re-lay after early breeding failure; no information on incubation and nestling periods.

Not globally threatened. Locally common throughout much of range. Ave­rage density of 0·25 pairs/ha in acacia woodland in NE South Africa. Tolerates quite heavy grazing pressure; atlas reporting rates in Botswana were higher in unprotected areas than in protected areas.