
Cape Robin-Chat
Cossypha caffra
Habitat
Ground
Diet
Invertebrate
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
29 g
About This Species
Found in gardens, forest edges and scrubby cover across southern Africa, where it forages on the ground for insects, often flicking its wings and tail while perched low. It sings a soft, musical phrase most often at dawn and dusk, in keeping with its crepuscular habits, so early morning or late afternoon are the best times to listen for it. It is a confiding species that often approaches quietly if you sit still near cover.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- A few metres of separation is usually sufficient, and letting the bird approach rather than walking toward it minimises stress.
- Wildlife protection law varies by country within its southern African range, so check local rules before playing calls to draw it in, and avoid this near a nest.
LCAvesPasseriformesMuscicapidae
Seasonal Activity
222,150 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
Traits
- Diet
- Invertebrate
- Foraging
- Ground
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 29 g
Photo
(c) Ad Konings, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Ad Konings
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.