Welcome Guest

Cape Robin-Chat

Dessonornis caffer (Linnaeus, C 1771)

The Cape robin-chat is a small passerine bird of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae. It has a disjunct range from South Sudan to South Africa. The locally familiar and confiding species has colonized and benefited from a range of man-altered habitats, including city suburbs and farmstead woodlots. It is an accomplished songster like other robin-chats, but is rather less colourful than most, and frequents either drier settings or higher altitudes. It forages in the proximity of cover, in the open or in fairly well-lit environments. Its distribution resembles that of the karoo–olive complex of thrushes, but it prefers the bracken-briar fringes of Afromontane forest, and does not enter far into forest proper. It is altitudinally segregated from the red-capped robin-chat, and is less of a skulker. Source: Wikipedia

Classification
Order:
  Passeriformes
Family:
  Muscicapidae
Genus:
   Dessonornis
Scientific:
  Dessonornis caffer

Original description

Citation:
  (Linnaeus, C 1771)

Reference:
   Mantissa Plant. Altera

Protonym:
  Motacilla caffra

Type locality:
  Cape of Good Hope.

Link:
  http://bibdigital.rjb.csic.es/ing/Libro.php?Libro=947

Avibase identifiers

Avibase ID:
  A38BABE18155945C

Avibase ID:
  avibase-A38BABE1

Short link:
  https://avibase.ca/A38BABE1

Taxonomic Serial Number:
  TSN: 559532

Geographic range:

  • Dessonornis caffer caffer: southwestern to eastern South Africa, Eswatini, and Zimbabwe
  • Dessonornis caffer iolaemus: far southern South Sudan, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and Kenya southward to Malawi and northern Mozambique
  • Dessonornis caffer kivuensis: eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kivu highlands) and southwestern Uganda
  • Dessonornis caffer namaquensis: southwestern Namibia and north-central and central South Africa
Source: Clements checklist
English:
Cape Robin-Chat
Catalan:
cossifa del Cap
Czech:
drozdík kapský
Danish:
Kapdrosselsanger
German:
Kaprötel
Spanish:
Cosifa Cafre
Spanish (Spain):
Cosifa Cafre
Finnish:
matkijapunatasku
French:
Cossyphe du Cap
Croatian:
sivoboki slavuj
Hungarian:
fokföldi rozsdásrigó
Icelandic:
Sunnuskotta
Italian:
Cossifa del Capo
Japanese (romaji):
tsugumihitaki
Japanese:
ツグミヒタキ
Lithuanian:
kapinė kosifa
Dutch:
Kaapse Lawaaimaker
Norwegian Nynorsk:
Gråflanketrastskvett
Norwegian:
Gråflanketrosteskvett
Polish:
złotokosik ogrodowy
Portuguese:
cossifa-do-cabo
Portuguese (Portugal):
pisco-do-cabo
Russian:
Капский рыжехвост
Slovak:
akalat záhradný
Serbian:
Sivogrudi crvendać
Swedish:
kapsnårskvätta
Ukrainian:
Золотокіс садовий
Chinese:
黄喉歌䳭
Chinese (Traditional):
黃喉歌鵖

Authorities recognizing this taxonomic concept:

African Bird Club Checklist 2004:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
African Bird Club Checklist August 2005:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
African Bird Club Checklist March 2007:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
African Bird Club Checklist January 2008:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
African Bird Club Checklist May 2009:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
African Bird Club Checklist March 2010:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts (current):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra)
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 2023 (May 2023):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 2024 (Oct 2024):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 01 (August 2013):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 02 (May 2014):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 03 (March 2015):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 04 (Aug 2016):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 05 (Jan 2017):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 06 (Feb 2018):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 07 (Feb 2020):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 08 (Feb 2021):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Avilist 2025:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Dessonornis caffer) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 00:
Cape Robin-chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 01:
Cape Robin-chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 02:
Cape Robin-chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 03:
Cape Robin-chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 04:
Cape Robin-chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 05 (Jun 2012):
Cape Robin-chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 05.1 (Oct 2012):
Cape Robin-chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 06 (Nov 2013):
Cape Robin-chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 06.1 (Feb 2014):
Cape Robin-chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 07 (Jul 2014):
Cape Robin-chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 08 (Oct 2015):
Cape Robin-chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 09 (Dec 2016):
Cape Robin-chat ( Dessonornis caffer) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 09.1 (Jun 2017):
Cape Robin-chat ( Dessonornis caffer) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v2 (Dec 2017):
Cape Robin-chat ( Dessonornis caffer) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v3 (Nov 2018):
Cape Robin-chat ( Dessonornis caffer) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v4 (Dec 2019):
Cape Robin-chat ( Dessonornis caffer) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v5 (Dec 2020):
Cape Robin-chat ( Dessonornis caffer) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v6 (Dec 2021):
Cape Robin-chat ( Dessonornis caffer) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v6b (Jul 2022):
Cape Robin-chat ( Dessonornis caffer) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v7 (Dec 2022):
Cape Robin-chat ( Dessonornis caffer) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v8 (Dec 2023):
Cape Robin-chat ( Dessonornis caffer) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v9 (Oct 2024):
Cape Robin-chat ( Dessonornis caffer) [version 1]
Commission internationale pour les noms français des oiseaux (1993, révision 2009):
Cossyphe du Cap ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Commission internationale pour les noms français des oiseaux (1993):
Cossyphe du Cap ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Clements 1st edition:
Cape Robin ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Clements, version 2021:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Clements, version 2022:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Clements, version 2023:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Clements, version 2024:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Dessonornis caffer) [version 1]
Clements 3rd edition:
Cape Robin ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Clements 4th edition:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Clements 5th edition (as published):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2000 revisions):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2001 revisions):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2002 revisions):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2003 revisions):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2004 revisions):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2005 revisions):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (incl. 2007 revisions):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (incl. 2008 revisions):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (incl. 2009 revisions):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.5 incl. 2010 revisions):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.6 incl. 2011 revisions):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.7 incl. 2012 revisions):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.8 incl. 2013 revisions):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.9 incl. 2014 revisions):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Clements, version 2015:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Clements, version 2016:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Clements, version 2017:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Clements, version 2018:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Clements, version 2019:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
eBird version 1.50:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
eBird version 1.52:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
eBird version 1.53:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
eBird version 1.54:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
eBird version 1.55:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
eBird version 2015:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
eBird version 2016:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
eBird version 2017:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
eBird version 2018:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
eBird version 2019:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
eBird version 2021:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
eBird version 2022:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
eBird version 2023:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
eBird version 2024:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Dessonornis caffer) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 2nd edition:
Cape Robin Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 2nd edition (incl. ? suppl):
Cape Robin Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (as published):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 1.2):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 2.1):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 3.1):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 4):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 5):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 6):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 7):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 8):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 4th edition (vol. 1-2):
Cape Robin Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 4th edition (incl. corrigenda vol.1-2):
Cape Robin Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Handbook of the Birds of the World (vol 1-16):
Cape Robin-chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (31/01/2015):
Cape Robin-chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (03/07/2017):
Cape Robin-chat ( Dessonornis caffer) [version 1]
Handbook of the Birds of the World and Birdlife (Dec 2017):
Cape Robin-chat ( Dessonornis caffer) [version 1]
Handbook of the Birds of the World and Birdlife (Dec 2018):
Cape Robin-chat ( Dessonornis caffer) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.0:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.1:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.5:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.6:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.7:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.0:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.1:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.2:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.3:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.4:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.5:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.6:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.7:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.8:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.9:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.10:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.11:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.1:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.2:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.3:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.4:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.5:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.1:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.2:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.3:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.4:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.1:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.2:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.3:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.4:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.1:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.2:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.3:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.4:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.1:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.2:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.3:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 8.1:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 8.2:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 9.1:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 9.2:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 10.1:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 10.2:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 11.1:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 11.2:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 12.1:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 12.2:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 13.1:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 13.2:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Dessonornis caffer) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 14.1:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Dessonornis caffer) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 14.2:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Dessonornis caffer) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 15.1:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Dessonornis caffer) [version 1]
Morony, Bock and Farrand:
Cape Robin ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Peters' Check-list of the Birds:
Cossypha caffra [version 1]
Peters' Check-list of the Birds (original):
Cossypha caffra [version 1]
Peters' Check-list of the Birds (2nd edition):
Cossypha caffra [version 1]
Sibley and Monroe (1993):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Sibley and Monroe (1993, including corrections up to 1998):
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Sibley and Monroe, Birds of the World Version 2.0:
Cape Robin-Chat ( Cossypha caffra) [version 1]
Zoonomen - Zoological Nomenclature Resource:
Cossypha caffra [version 1]
Zoonomen - Zoological Nomenclature Resource:
Cossypha caffra [version 1]

Taxonomic status:

Species status: full species

Your sightings

You must be logged in to view your sighting details. To register to myAvibase click here.

Related taxa

Highlight taxa in a checklist (shown in red)

Other synonyms

See also the taxonomic synonyms table.


Afrikaans: Gewone Janfrederik, Janfrederik
Azerbaijani: Kap odquyruğu
Catalan: cossifa del Cap
Czech: Drozdík kapský
Danish: Kapdrosselsanger
German: Kap Rötel, Kaprötel
English: Cape Robin, Cape Robin Chat, Cape Robinchat, Cape Robin-Chat, Common Robin-Chat, Robin Chat, Robin-Chat
English, HBW: Cape Robin-chat
English (IOC): Cape Robin-Chat
English (Kenya): Cape Robin Chat
English (United States): Cape Robin-Chat
Esperanto: Kablanda kosifo
Spanish: Cosifa Cafre
Spanish (Spain): Cosifa Cafre
Spanish (HBW): Cape Robin-Chat
Estonian: mägi-ruugeööbik
Finnish: Matkijapunarastas, matkijapunatasku
French: Cossyphe du Cap
Croatian: sivoboki slavuj
Hungarian: fokföldi rozsdásrigó
Icelandic: Sunnuskotta
Italian: Cossifa del Capo, Tordo pettirosso del Capo
Japanese (romaji): tsugumihitaki
Japanese: ツグミヒタキ
Scientific: Bessonornis pectoralis, Cossipha pectoralis, Cossypha caffra, Cossypha caffra caffra, Dessonornis caffer, Dessonornis caffra, Motacilla caffra
Lithuanian: kapinė kosifa
Dutch: Kaapse Lawaaimaker
Norwegian Nynorsk: Gråflanketrastskvett
Norwegian: gråflanketrosteskvett, Kaffertrosteskvett
Polish: zlotokos ogrodowy, złotokos ogrodowy, złotokosik ogrodowy
Portuguese: Cossifa do Cabo, cossifa-do-cabo
Portuguese (Portugal): pisco-do-cabo
Russian: Капская чекановая горихвостка, Капский рыжехвост
Slovak: akalat záhradný
Serbian: Kapski crvendać, Sivogrudi crvendać
Sotho, Southern: Sethoenamoru
Swedish: kapsnårskvätta, Kapsnårtrast
Swahili: Kurumbiza Tumbo-jeupe
Turkish: Kap kızılca bülbülü
Ukrainian: Золотокіс садовий
Xhosa: Ugaga
Chinese: 黄喉歌䳭, 黄喉歌(即鸟), 黄喉歌鵖
Chinese (Traditional): 黃喉歌鵖
Zulu: uGaga

Avibase has been visited 430,622,944 times since 24 June 2003. © Denis Lepage | Privacy policy