Kalahari scrub robin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kalahari scrub robin
At Pilanesberg Game Reserve
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Muscicapidae
Genus:	Cercotrichas
Species:	C. paena
Binomial name
Cercotrichas paena (Smith, 1836)
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Synonyms
Erythropygia paena

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The Kalahari scrub robin is a small, active bird found in southern Africa. Its scientific name is Cercotricha paena. People sometimes call it the sandy scrub robin because it lives in sandy areas. This bird is part of the Muscicapidae family, which includes many types of flycatchers and chats.

Where Do Kalahari Scrub Robins Live?

These birds live in several countries in southern Africa. You can find them in southern Angola, Botswana, Namibia, northern South Africa, and Zimbabwe. They love places with sandy ground and low trees or bushes. They also live on the edges of forests and in open grasslands called savannas.

Sometimes, you might even spot them in places changed by people. This includes old fields or gardens. The Kalahari scrub robin is quite common. Scientists do not think human activities are threatening them.

Life Cycle and Reproduction

Kalahari scrub robins have a special time of year for having babies. This breeding season usually runs from August to February. It is busiest in November, which is also when the rainy season is at its peak.

These birds are monogamous, meaning a male and female stay together. They also protect their own special area, called a territory. These territories can be different sizes, from about 0.7 to 4.3 hectares.

Building the Nest

The female Kalahari scrub robin is in charge of building the nest. She weaves it carefully using small branches and grasses. She usually places the nest low down in thorny bushes. Building the nest takes her about five days.

Eggs and Chicks

On average, the female lays about two eggs at a time. However, she might lay more eggs later in the breeding season. Only the female sits on the eggs to keep them warm, a process called incubation. This takes about 12 days.

While the female incubates, the male bird guards the nest. He bravely attacks anything that comes too close. He also warns his mate if predators are nearby.

After the chicks hatch, the female removes the empty eggshells. She drops them far away from the nest. This helps to hide the nest from animals that might want to eat the chicks.

The baby chicks are born altricial. This means they are helpless and need a lot of care. The female broods them, keeping them warm, for about 3 to 7 days after they hatch. Both parents work together to feed the chicks. They also remove the chicks' waste, called faecal sacs, to keep the nest clean. The chicks are ready to leave the nest, or fledge, after about 12 days.

Gallery

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  Cocking the tail
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  Preening