White-browed Robin-Chat

Cossypha heuglini

Least ConcernUncommonInvertebratesRiverineCavity nestSmall · 35 g

About the White-browed Robin-Chat

The white-browed robin-chat, also known as Heuglin's robin, is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. Found in east, central and southern Africa, its natural habitats include riverine forest and thickets, and it is also found near humans. The IUCN classifies it as a least-concern species.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

The white-browed robin-chat is 19–20 cm (7.5–7.9 in) long and weighs 29–51 g (1.0–1.8 oz). The crown and face are black, and there is a white supercilium over the dark brown eye. The back is olive grey-brown, and the rump is rufous. The two central tail feathers are olive-brown, and the other feathers are orange-rufous. The flight feathers and wing coverts are grey-brown, and the underwing coverts are rufous. The underparts are bright orange-rufous. The beak is black, and the legs are pinkish-brown, brownish grey, or dark brown. The female is a little smaller than the male. Voice: The white-browed robin-chat's contact calls include repeated pit-porlee, chiiritter-porlii and da-da-tee and end with da-teee or chickle-ter-tweep. The alarm call is takata-kata-kata. The melodious song, usually given at dawn and dusk, is quiet at first and then becomes louder; it consists of pip-pip-uree, don't-you-do-it or tirrootirree phrases that can be repeated more than ten times.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

What the White-browed Robin-Chat sounds like

Recording: paulo kivuyo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Anne Ndung'u · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Anne Ndungu · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

Where it lives

Regular rangeRare visitor

Recorded as a rare visitor in Somalia, Cameroon, Congo - Brazzaville.

When to see it

Peak activity in November · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Learn the White-browed Robin-Chat for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

Play BeakBrain

Every photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.