Rufous-eared warbler

Malcorus pectoralis

Photo by Alastair Rae (Wikipedia)

Common name:

rufous-eared warbler (en); felosa-de-faces-ruivas (pt); prinia à joues rousses (fr); prinia carirrufa (es); rotohrsänger (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Cisticolidae

Range:

This South African species is found in Namibia, southern Botswana and throughout South Africa.

Size:

Rufous-eared warblers are 16 cm long and weigh around 10 g.

Habitat:

This species is found in lowland scrublands and dry grasslands, including some areas in the Kalahari desert.

Diet:

The rufous-eared warbler mainly eats invertebrates supplemented with small fruit and seeds. They often glean prey from the stems and leaves, taking Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera, termites, ants, spiders and ticks.

Breeding:

This species breeds all year round, but it generally prefers to lay eggs after periods of rainfall. The nest is an untidy oval shape with a side-top entrance, built of grey grass leaves and stems, or alternatively from strips of milkweed (Asclepias buchenaviana), reinforced with spider web and lined with plant down. It is typically placed up to 1 m above ground in a bush or shrub, such as driedoring (Rhigozum trichotomum), doringvygie (Ruschia spinosa) and bloubrakbossie (Galenia fruticosa). The female lays 2-4 eggs which are incubated for 12-13 days. The chicks are fed by both parents, fledging after 11-13 days.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

Although the global population size has not been quantified, the species is described as common throughout its large breeding range. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.