Occurs in isolated populations from Kenya, through
Tanzania, Malawi and northern Mozambique to southern Africa. Here it is uncommon
to rare in central Mozambique, Swaziland, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern and
Western Cape. It mainly occupies habitats with dense cover adjacent to open areas
for foraging; in the Western Cape it favours moist mountain fynbos with
fountain-bush (Psoralea) and mountain daisies (Osmitopsis) while
elsewhere it dry upland grassland with woody vegetation such as
Protea, Oldwood (Leucosidea sericea) and sagewoods (Buddleja)
and sour grassland dominated by Red grass (Themeda triandra). It may also
move into croplands to forage, especially fields of Millet (Setaria anceps)
and Lucerne (Medicago sativa).
Mainly sedentary, although it may make local
movements in response to increased temperatures or fires.
Food
Mainly eats insects, foraging throughout the day by
searching for food on the ground and around the bases of grass tufts. The following food items have been recorded
in its diet:
Monogamous, territorial solitary nester, probably with a lifelong pair
bond.
The nest (see images at the top of the page) is a bowl of dried grass or
rootlets, typically concealed in a tuft of sedge or grass which is woven
into the structure.
Egg-laying season is from September-March.
It lays 4-5 eggs, which are incubated by the male by day and the female
at night for at least 15 days.
The chicks leave the nest soon after hatching, with the female
accompanying them.
Threats
Not globally threatened, although Vulnerable in
South Africa and Threatened in Zimbabwe, largely due to overgrazing, loss
of grasslands and too frequent burning.
References
Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ and Ryan PG 2005. Roberts
- Birds of southern Africa, VIIth ed. The Trustees of the John Voelcker
Bird Book Fund, Cape Town.
