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Eremomela scotops (Green-capped eremomela) 

Donkerwangbossanger [Afrikaans]; Niini (generic term for warblers and eremomelas) [Kwangali]; Timba (generic name for cisticolas and warblers) [Shona]; Groenkap-eremomela [Dutch]; Érémomèle à calotte verte [French]; Grünkappen-eremomela [German]; Eremomela-de-barrete-verde [Portuguese]

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates)  > Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) > Teleostomi (teleost fish) > Osteichthyes (bony fish) > Class: Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fish) > Stegocephalia (terrestrial vertebrates) > Tetrapoda (four-legged vertebrates) > Reptiliomorpha > Amniota > Reptilia (reptiles) > Romeriida > Diapsida > Archosauromorpha > Archosauria > Dinosauria (dinosaurs) > Saurischia > Theropoda (bipedal predatory dinosaurs) > Coelurosauria > Maniraptora > Aves (birds) > Order: Passeriformes > Family: Sylviidae > Genus: Eromomela

Eremomela scotops (Green-capped eremomela)   

Green-capped eremomela, Rwanda. [photo Herbert Byaruhanga ©]

 

Distribution and habitat

Occurs from the southern half of the DRC through Tanzania, Angola and Zambia to southern Africa. It prefers broad-leaved woodland, such as Miombo (Brachystegia), Burkea (Burkea africana) and Zambezi teak (Baikiaea plurijuga), occasionally moving into gardens in south-western Zimbabwe.

Distribution of Green-capped eremomela in southern Africa, based on statistical smoothing of the records from first SA Bird Atlas Project (© Animal Demography unit, University of Cape Town; smoothing by Birgit Erni and Francesca Little). Colours range from dark blue (most common) through to yellow (least common). See here for the latest distribution from the SABAP2.  

Food 

It prefers to forage in groups in the tree canopy, either with other Green-capped eremomelas or other species. Its diet is not known, other than that it eats small insects.

Breeding

  • It is a facultative cooperative breeder, meaning that the breeding pair are assisted by 1-5 helpers.
  • All members participate in the construction of the nest, which is a small cup made of plant down and buds of Miombo (Brachystegia), secured with spider web.
  • Egg-laying season in Zimbabwe is from August-February, peaking from September-November.
  • It lays 2-5 eggs, which are incubated by all group members.

Threats

Not threatened, but fragmentation of Miombo (Brachystegia) woodland is cause for concern.

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. 

  • Harrison, J.A., Allan, D.G., Underhill, L.G., Herremans, M., Tree. A.J., Parker, V. & Brown, C.J. (eds). 1997. The atlas of southern African birds. Vol. 2: Passerines. BirdLife South Africa, Johannesburg.