Drakensberg rockjumper

Drakensberg rockjumper
Adult male
Conservation status

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Chaetopidae
Genus: Chaetops
Species: C. aurantius
Binomial name
Chaetops aurantius
Layard, 1867
General range: the Drakensberg alti-montane grasslands

The Drakensberg rockjumper or orange-breasted rockjumper (Chaetops aurantius) is a medium-sized insectivorous passerine bird endemic to the alpine grasslands and rock outcrops of the Drakensberg Mountains of southeastern South Africa. It is sometimes included with the allopatric Cape rockjumper in C. frenatus; the two are the only living species of the Chaetopidae (rockjumper family) if this is not merged with the Picathartidae (rockfowl).

This rockjumper is 23–25 cm long with a long black tail and strong legs. The male has a dark grey head with a thin white supercilium and a broad white moustache. The back and wings are dark grey.

A Chaetops aurantius with a caterpillar

The underparts are orange and the rump is rufous red. The female and juvenile have a paler grey head, upperparts and wings, a duller head pattern, an orange rump, and buff underparts. The call is a loud wheeoo. The Cape rockjumper male has rufous red underparts, and the female and young are darker buff below than in C. aurantius.

This is a ground-nesting species which forages on rocky slopes and scree. It frequently perches on rocks. The Cape rockjumper uses one or two additional individuals, usually a pair's offspring of the preceding breeding season, to assist the parents in territorial defence and alarm calling, and in the feeding of nestlings and fledglings. Given the great similarities between the species, it is likely that Drakensberg rockjumper uses a similar strategy.

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Chaetops aurantius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.

External links