FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
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The Karoo chat is a simple yet charming neutral-colored bird that you are bound to love! Hermann Schlegel, a German ornithologist, came up with the name for this species of the Muscicapidae genus and this bird is endemic to South Africa. It is known as the Karoospekvreter in Afrikaans, the Bleichschmätzer in German, and the traquet du Karroo in French. This bird resembles the mountain weather bird and the only way to tell these birds apart from other birds of southern Africa is by taking a close look at their legs and tail. In the case of the Karoo chat, these legs and tails are slender and V-shaped.
Read along to learn some interesting facts about the Karoo chat. You can also check out our secretary bird facts and tawny owl facts too.
The Karoo chat is a tiny passerine bird in the Muscicapidae family of Old World flycatchers.
The Emarginata schlegelii species belongs to the class Aves of the Animalia kingdom.
The Karoo chat is distributed over a wide range so its population is large in number. However, the precise population size of this species is difficult to ascertain. The range of their resident occurrence is 768343.3 sq mi (1,990,000 sq km).
The Emarginata schlegelii species is near-endemic to South Africa (meaning that the majority of its population is limited to South Africa). The Karoo chat is also common in southwestern Angola and dry parts of Namibia. Their population is concentrated in the southwestern Karoo desert and is sparse in the rest of the continent of Africa.
This bird's natural habitat is the arid zone in the Karoo desert and in the north Namibian plains. This species is a common resident in the green fertile areas of enormous thickets of South Africa and southwestern Angola. It spends most of its time on the savannahs feeding and breeding.
The Emarginata schlegelii species is found living either singly or in pairs. This species forms monogamous relationships and mature Karoo chats enjoy living as couples to guard their territory during the breeding season. After hatching, the young bird flees the parental area to live on its own.
The lifespan of this bird is yet to be discovered. Various studies are being conducted in South Africa to find this out.
Reproduction in the Emarginata schlegelii species is achieved by internal fertilization. These birds reproduce at any time, so the breeding season can occur at any time of the year. However, spawning tends to stick to a particular timeframe between August and mid-March. The bird lays two to four green eggs with yellow undertones and rust blotches on nests made of straw and leaves. The nest is placed on the ground beneath a bush for shade and protection from predators like eagles and vultures. The eggs hatch after a 15 day incubation period.
As per the IUCN Red List, these birds are placed under the Least Concern category. This is because it has been estimated that the decline of these birds will be less than 30% in the next three generations.
One of the main characteristics that help in the identification of Karoo chat birds from other birds of southern Africa is the species' long black tail that is fringed with white tail feathers. Also, their upper body is entirely gray. This species has black legs and black feet, in contrast to their white bosom and belly feathers. Each eye is small and brown, and has a rust patch on the side.
We've been unable to source an image of a Karoo chat and have used an image of the Luscinia svecica bird instead. If you are able to provide us with a royalty-free image of a Karoo chat, we would be happy to credit you. Please contact us at [email protected]
The small stature, gray color, and high pitch call of this bird make for an appealing image. This bird, true to its appearance, is generally peaceful.
Birds of the Emarginata schlegelii species communicate among themselves by sending out call notes. These are brief sounds emitted by birds that we may refer to as chirps. They can also convey messages through their body language and behavior. This bird has a broad spectrum of calls. Younger birds' companion calls, alarm calls, and hunger calls are the most well-known. Their call is distinct and may consist of double notes like 'chak-chak' or even triple notes like 'turret tat tut'.
The Emarginata schlegelii species is around 6.2-7 in (16-18 cm). This bird is twice the size of a hummingbird.
This bird can be seen traveling singly or in pairs at a speed range of 30-36 mph (26-31 kph) during migration. At other times the flight speed depends upon the individual bird's ability.
This bird weighs between 0.05-0.66 lb (0.023-0.031 kg).
These birds of southern Africa do not possess any specific names for males and females. They are simply referred to as Karoo chat (Emarginata schlegelii) birds.
Young Karoo chats from this species of birds that are almost endemic to South Africa can be called chicks or hatchlings.
Insects make up a large portion of their diet. This bird consumes honey thorns, butterflies, bees, wasps, locusts, caterpillars, and seeds in smaller quantities. Aside from that, they may be spotted devouring termites from the ground.
Emarginata schlegelii birds often reside near human dwellings. These birds are not afraid of human contact and are quite sociable.
Although these birds are at ease around humans and may be kept as pets, they are not as sociable as parrots. Perhaps they are better off in the wild.
This monogamous bird is secretive during its breeding seasons.
This gray bird despises the summer. Therefore, during the summer, it is difficult to detect this bird.
In an attempt to entice a predator away from the nest and their young birds, adult Emarginata schlegelii birds can imitate an injured bird.
The Karoo chat has four subspecies. Emarginata schlegelii benguellensis is a subspecies that is spotted in southwest Angola. Emarginata schlegelii namaquensis is most common in southern Namibia and northwestern South Africa. Emarginata schlegelii schlegelii is a subspecies that is native to coastal Namibia and Emarginata schlegelii pollux is the scientific name for the gray rumped Karoo chat. This is a subspecies that is frequently seen in southwestern and central South Africa. These birds of the Muscicapidae family look alike with minute differences that can help with their identification.
The Karoo desert is a semi-desert region in South Africa. This is the native habitat of the Emarginata schlegelii species. The word 'chat' refers to a group of tiny birds with high-pitched call sounds (songbirds). The name Karoo chat was given to this bird since it is small and produces loud chirps and is found in the Karoo desert.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our umbrellabird facts and mockingbird facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one of our free printable Karoo chat coloring pages.
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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