Chorister Robin-Chat Cossypha dichroa Scientific name definitions

19–20 cm; 38–48 g. Has head (to below eye) to back dark slate-grey (blackest on face), shading to orange-rufous on rump and tail, latter with blackish central feathers, wings dark slate with narrow bluish fringes of flight-feathers and smaller coverts; orange-rufous below , including neck side; bill black, legs pinkish-grey. Sexes similar. Juvenile is blackish with buff mottling above, buff with blackish mottling below, tail as adult; complete adult plumage acquired at 11 weeks. Race <em>mimica</em> is smaller than nominate.

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Primarily insects, also fruit . Of eleven stomachs and 33 faecal samples from N & E of range, 73% held beetles, 61% ants, 57% fruits (Asparagus, Burchellia, Celtis, Kiggelaria, Maytenus, Scolopia, Scutia, Solanum, Vepris, Xymalos, and exotic Hedychium, Lantana, Psidium, Rhus and Rubus), 34% moths and caterpillars, 16% centipedes and millipedes, 9% orthopterans, 9% plant bugs and assassin bugs, 9% flies, 9% woodlice, 7% termites, 5% spiders, 5% other arachnids, 2% wasps, 2% other insects. Earthworms and ticks also taken; ticks once picked from a bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus). Exploitation of local abundances of prey indicated by stomach with 59 caterpillars and another with 79 driver ants. Some of fruit in diet is taken from orchards and ornamental shrubs in gardens and parks adjacent to forest in dry season, Apr–Sept; in Oct–May forages mainly in middle strata and lower canopy of forest. Follows ant swarms and mole-rats (Cryptomys) in winter to snatch invertebrates disturbed by their activities. Emerges at dusk to feed in open glades.

Song , given only when breeding, beautiful and powerful, like that of C. natalensis but bubbly, rather than slurred, and with much mimicry, commonly of African Emerald Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx cupreus) and Black-headed Oriole (Oriolus larvatus), but 26 bird species, also humans and dogs, recorded as mimicked. Lone individuals wintering in coastal forest (presumably first-years) often deliver quiet subsong, a throaty twittering warble. Calls include throaty “grirrrr” in alarm and when roosting, and in alarm may also imitate “chuk” of Turdus olivaceus; also, most often when with fledged young, a rather plaintive, often monotonously repeated “toy-toy”, varying to “toy-toy-toy”, “piip-borrow”, “piip-booo” and “tweedle-dee”, as contact. Fledglings have penetrating “chip” location call.