Olive-flanked Robin-Chat Cossypha anomala Scientific name definitions

14–15 cm; 21–28·1 g (nominate). Adult is olive-brown from crown to mid-back and darker wings, shading to chestnut rump and chestnut-brown tail; grey forehead and pre-ocular supercilium, black lores and cheeks; off-white chin to throat, grey breast and belly, becoming buffier on flanks and whitish on lower mid-belly; bill black, eyes dark brown or black, and legs brown or grey-brown, occasionally pinkish grey or purplish brown. Sexes similar. Juvenile is like adult, but buff-speckled above and below.

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Recently placed by several authorities in genus Dryocichloides; also sometimes placed in Alethe or Dessonornis. Some authorities split this species into multiple taxa. Subspecies macclounii and grotei sometimes split as C. macclounii on the basis of its (olive-tinged) dull dark grey vs dull olive-rufous upperparts; clear white vs white-tinged narrow grey supercilium; blackish vs grey face and moustachial area; more intense white of throat; less extensive grey of breast (mbuluensis) with more white on mid-belly; more rufous, less olive-ochreish lower flanks and undertail-coverts. Subspecies mbuluensis sometimes split on the basis of its broader white supercilium, especially above lores; shorter white chin and throat, not extending onto breast; much darker grey breast and flanks; darker upperparts; shade darker rufous-chestnut undertail-coverts and undertail; and two-note vs three- to seven-note song (1 Clement, P., and C. Rose (2015). Robins and Chats. Christopher Helm, London, United Kingdom. Close ), not responding to playback of geographically and morphologically closest form C. a. grotei.

Adult macclounii (17.5–29 g) has mainly dark grey upperparts including forecrown (darker anteriorly), black or blackish-grey head-sides, with narrow but prominent white or off-white supercilium extending to rear of ear-coverts and that is often divided above base of bill, slightly olive-washed rear crown, back and wing-coverts, brownish-chestnut rump and uppertail-coverts, reddish-brown tail that becomes darker on tips and on central feathers, chin to centre of upper breast white, becoming pale grey over rest of breast and flanks, and rufous rear flanks and ventral region; bill black, eyes dark brown or red-brown, and legs and feet dark brown, dark grey-brown, purplish brown, purplish grey or purplish pink. Juvenile has buff-centred feathers on rump, uppertail-coverts and underparts, appearing speckled, but central belly and vent are pale puff and hardly marked; uppertail-coverts buff or rufous, flight-feathers and tail dark brown, and bill paler than adult, especially on mandible.

Race grotei (grotei) is much more strongly contrasting, with prominent white supercilium and throat, blacker head, face and upperparts, greyer upper flanks, more rufous lower flanks and vent, bright rufous rump and tail, latter with blackish central feathers and terminal band.

Adult mbuluensis has upper head to upperparts and wings black or blackish grey, with long prominent white supercilium extending from forehead to rear of ear-coverts, black cheeks and ear-coverts, becoming blackish grey on neck-sides, dull rufous-orange rump and brighter rufous to rufous-orange uppertail-coverts, blackish central tail-feathers and tips to outer rectrices, with remainder being contrastingly rufous-orange, chin and throat white, breast and flanks dark or blackish grey, becoming paler on belly, with deep rufous lower flanks, vent and undertail-coverts; bill black; eyes dark brown, and legs and feet dark brown.

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EBIRD GROUP (MONOTYPIC)

Olive-flanked Robin-Chat (White-bellied) Cossypha anomala grotei Scientific name definitions

• eBird map
• 1 photos
• 8 recordings

Distribution

E and S Tanzania (Ukaguru and Uluguru Mts to Udzungwa Mts S to Njombe and Songea).

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EBIRD GROUP (MONOTYPIC)

Olive-flanked Robin-Chat (Black) Cossypha anomala mbuluensis Scientific name definitions

• eBird map
• 8 photos
• 2 recordings

Distribution

Mbulu Highlands, in NC Tanzania.

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EBIRD GROUP (POLYTYPIC)

Olive-flanked Robin-Chat (Olive-flanked) Cossypha anomala [anomala Group]

Available illustrations of subspecies in this group

• eBird map
• 9 photos
• 8 recordings

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SUBSPECIES

Cossypha anomala macclounii Scientific name definitions

Distribution

SW Tanzania (Tukuyu), N Malawi (Nyika and Viphya Plateaux) and adjacent NE Zambia.

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SUBSPECIES

Cossypha anomala anomala Scientific name definitions

Distribution

N-central Malawi (Mt. Mulanje region)

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SUBSPECIES

Cossypha anomala gurue Scientific name definitions

Distribution

Montane forests of n-central Mozambique

Race anomalus is found on Mt Mulanje (S Malawi), Mt Namuli, and Mt Chiperone (N Mozambique). Race mbuluensis is found in the Mbulu Highlands, in NC Tanzania.

Montane evergreen forest, forest patches, edges and adjacent gardens, at 1000–2600 m. Inhabits the dense understory of montane and mid-altitude rainforest, at 1000–2300 m on Mt Mulanje (Malawi, but see Movements). Mainly above 1900 m in Ulugurus but at 1400–1830 m in Udzungwa Mts, in Tanzania, at 1600–2450 m in N Malawi and 2050–2200 m in NE Zambia. Altitudinal range in Tanzania appears to be incompletely known. Altitudinal range of mbuluensis incompletely known, but type specimen was taken at c. 2130 m. Favors areas with dense understory of nettles or Acanthaceae, streamsides with tree-ferns (Cyathea) and steep wet ravines; less common in drier gallery forest on plateaux, where confined to areas with dense understory.

Probably sedentary or mainly so, but recorded at 900 m in dry season (Aug) on Mt Mulanje (Malawi), suggesting minor altitudinal movement. Sedentary on Nyika Plateau, in Malawi; retrapped birds moved 0–620 m (mean 150 m) from initial capture site in same forest patch.

Only insects reported. Forages mainly on ground or on logs, but also in low shrubs; occasionally sallies after flying insects, sometimes to bark; some subspecies reported to frequently ascends into middle strata to glean on creeper-laden and moss-clad tree trunks. Regularly flicks wings while simultaneously slowly lowering and raising the tail. Generally shy, remaining hidden within vegetation, but macclounii reportedly ventures up to 100 m into open glades in twilight. Regular at ant swarms, but occurs in forest patches that lack them. Race mbuluensis reportedly forages alone or in pairs.

Song a series of a standard phrase consisting of 4–7 simple high whistles, “one-three-four, one-three-four-five” or “er sii hurry per yoh”, first and last few notes descending, third from last usually highest. Song  of macclounii is similar to, or slightly shorter than, race anomala, also comprising up to seven notes, rendered “sit see seepiyu” or “sit see seechu”, being less downslurred and higher-pitched than anomala. Song of grotei is very similar, also 3–7 notes, e.g. “sit soo soodl soo” or “sit soo su soo suwee”, but with considerable variation across its relatively broad geographical range. Song of mbuluensis a two-note whistle, “fi-fúúúúr”, the first note short, but the second much longer and emphasized. Call a loud harsh irregular “bairk”, “har”, “chop” or “wump”, as contact and alarm.

Season Jul and Oct–Dec in Tanzania; late Nov–early Jan on Nyika Plateau, in Malawi, and from Oct on Zambian side. Territory size 0·25–2·5 ha (depending on habitat quality) on Nyika Plateau, with smallest territories in areas of dense understory, and largest ones in those of less well-developed ground strata. Territory size of anomala 1–1·5 ha on Muretha Plateau (Mt Namuli, Mozambique). No other published information for races anomala or mbuluensis. Single-brooded. Nest an open cup of dead leaves and moss, lined with black plant fibres, on bankside or 0·7–1·3 m above ground in hollow top of stump or tree or on horizontal stem in thicket. Eggs two, creamy brown with darker brown mottling at large end, size 25–27 mm × 15–17 mm. No information on incubation and nestling periods. Of 37 pairs on Nyika Plateau, 16 (43%) successful, productivity 0·7 young per pair or 1·7 young per successful pair. Mean annual mortality 14% for males, 43% for females. Oldest individual on record at least ten years, but 26 of 43 ringed birds were controlled when up to nine years old.

Not globally threatened. When split as separate species, race anomala considered to be Near Threatened. Otherwise, considered Least Concern (race macclounii/grotei [Least Concern] and race mbuluensis [Least Concern]). Race anomala range-restricted: confined to Tanzania–Malawi mountains EBA. Overall population is wholly unknown, but is believed to be declining. Range estimated at 22,100 km². Was abundant on Mt Mulanje (Malawi), although ongoing forest clearance at lower elevations on this mountain must be some cause for concern, and is still common on Mt Namuli (Mozambique), where human activities such as agricultural expansion, fires, iron-smelting and timber extraction for construction materials, which have been ongoing for many decades on the lower slopes, have now reached c. 1500–1700 m. Races macclounii/grotei range-restricted: confined to Tanzania–Malawi mountains EBA. Overall range estimated to encompass c. 212,000 km². Population unknown, but believed to be decreasing as a result of ongoing habitat destruction and fragmentation. On Nyika Plateau, where partially protected within Perekezi Forest Reserve and Nyika National Park, abundance related to habitat, with lower densities where relatively dry conditions near and on ridges create sparser undergrowth; overall densities of ten pairs per 10 ha on SW Nyika and Uzumara. Elsewhere in range relatively scarce; density in Udzungwa Mts, in Tanzania, 15 pairs or 45 individuals/km², although commoner at nearby (50 km distant) forest patch 200–500 m higher in altitude. Known from several additional conservation units in Tanzania, including Udzungwa National Park and several forest reserves in the Rubeho Mts, Uluguru Mts and Umalila Mts. Race mbuluensis has a small overall range, estimated at 5300 km². Principally known Nou Forest, in the Mbulu Highlands of NC Tanzania, but populations may also be protected within Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Lake Manyara National Park. Population believed to be in the range of 20,000–50,000 individuals, and is considered to be stable at present. Anthropogenic habitat alteration has occurred within this region of Tanzania, but it uncertain whether this has affected the species’ montane habitat.