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Eremomela usticollis (Burnt-necked eremomela) 

Bruinkeelbossanger [Afrikaans]; Niini (generic term for warblers and eremomelas) [Kwangali]; Timba (generic name for cisticolas and warblers) [Shona]; Roesthals-eremomela [Dutch]; Érémomèle à cou roux [French]; Rostkehl-eremomela, Rostband-eremomela [German]; Eremomela-de-garganta-castanha [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 usticollis (Burnt-necked eremomela) Eremomela usticollis (Burnt-necked eremomela)

Burnt-necked eremomela, Roodeplaat Dam, South Africa. [photos Johann Grobbelaar ©]

Distribution and habitat

Occurs from Zambia to Malawi south to southern Africa. Here it is fairly common in fine-leaved Acacia woodland, rarely moving into gardens with Acacia trees and broad-leaved woodland.

Distribution of Burnt-necked 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 

Its diet is has not been well-studied, however it is known to eat insects and their larvae, spiders and sometimes the nectar of the Mountain aloe (Aloe marlothii). It often joins mixed species foraging flocks along with other passerines, gleaning insects from leaves and branches in the canopy.

Breeding

  • The nest is a delicate cup built of soft plant down covered with dry leaves or insect egg capsules. It is typically suspended from a few twigs in the Acacia canopy.
Eremomela usticollis (Burnt-necked eremomela)  

Burnt-necked eremomela at its nest, Sericea farm, South Africa. [photo Warwick Tarboton ©]

 
  • Egg-laying season is from September-April, peaking from October-March.
  • It lays 1-4 eggs, which are incubated by both sexes.
  • The chicks are brooded and fed by both of their parents.

Threats

Not threatened.

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.