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Dunno how many people are aware of this, but the Cape Robin-Chat is quite a good mimicker of other birds' calls. Listen carefully when you hear one sing next time.

Excellent pics and thank you for the information.

We have been observing a nest since New Years Day. First one egg, then two. Both hatched a week ago. Have been eagerly awaiting some form of ID as the Red Chested Cuckoo disappeared on the 3rd January and hasn't been back. Looking at the pics above, we have 2 of them (not cuckoo orphans). Now that I have been able to log on again, I will try and download some pics of their growth spurt. The Mom is very attentive and allows us to check the nest every evening whilst watching us from about a metre away. The nest is in an azalea bush.

Interesting about this poo management system, JvR, because I observed the same with American robins that raised four chicks on my back porch last May. It was a behaviour that I was not previously aware of.

I'd like to ask the experts some help with a bird spotted in my garden in Potchefstroom yesterday.
I suspect it is a juvenile, and my bird books are a bit shy on good descriptions or photo's or sketches of robin-chats, which is what I suspect it is. There were two of them, and one had more extensive orange on the outer tail feathers, right up to the tip, without a black tip on them as is described for the Familiar chat.
It hopped about in some trees, lifting it's tail almost like a prinia, at times. It didn't make a sound.
The giss makes me think robin-chat. I do have adult Cape robin-chats and Karoo Thrushes in the garden. I think its too slender to be a thrush.
I suspect a juvenile Cape robin-chat, but as I said, I lack a good description or image of a juvenile. I was unable to get a photograph of the front (it's a bit skittish), but can tell you it looks mottled grey, orange and faint white spots, just like on the flanks.
I considered Familiar chat, because of the orange tail feathers, but I didn't see any wing flicking at all and I would expect to?







Is it a juvenile Cape robin-chat or maybe something else?

Your logic pointing to the Cape robin-chat is spot-on, mel123

Such a pretty little bird!


038 by jansp, on Flickr