About the Cape Longclaw
The Cape longclaw or orange-throated longclaw is a passerine bird in the family Motacillidae, which comprises the longclaws, pipits and wagtails. It occurs in Southern Africa in Zimbabwe and southern and eastern South Africa. This species is found in coastal and mountain grassland, often near water.
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ID tip
The Cape longclaw is a 19–20 cm long. The adult male has a grey head with a buff supercilium and a streaked blackish back. It has a bright orange gorget, black breast band and otherwise yellow underparts. The female is duller, having a yellow throat and much weaker breast band. The juvenile has a dirty yellow throat, indistinct breast band, and yellowish white underparts. The Cape longclaw is usually found in pairs throughout the year. It feeds on the ground on insects and some seeds. The song is a musical cheewit cheewit, the contact call is tsweet, and there is also a mewling alarm call.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Botswana.
When to see it
Peak activity in October · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Yellow-throated LongclawMacronyx croceusThey have yellow underparts and a black "bib" on the upper chest.
Rosy-throated LongclawMacronyx ameliaeAdult birds are 19–20 centimetres (7.5–7.9 in) long with greyish-brown scalloped upper parts.
Pangani LongclawMacronyx aurantiigulaThe Pangani longclaw measures around 20 cm (8 in) in length.
Learn the Cape Longclaw for real
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