Cercotrichas galactotes - Rufous-tailed Bush Chat
Feather characters. Barbules are rather short (0.58-0.77 mm) and divided into pigmented nodes and partly pigmented (less than 50%) internodes. Distal internodes in particular, are heavily pigmented. Bell-shaped nodes are equally distributed along the entire length of barbules (30-36 per mm). They all are about the same size, slightly decreasing towards distal end. Distally, nodes are more elongated. Villi are rounded and internodes are straight. Minute prongs are present on distal end of barbules and on both sides of the pennulum. Barbules have this typical structure for Passeriformes; pigmented, bell-shaped nodes combined with rounded villi.
Field characters. Size 16 cm. Weight 20.3 g (17.5-24.0) (Dunning, 1993). A warbler-like thrush with a long tail. Upperparts rufous-grey, supercilium whitish, long, bordered below by dark eye-stripe, underparts whitish. Most obvious field character is the long, rufous, black- and white- tipped tail, which is often cocked, fanned and moved from side to side. Strong long legs and upright chat-like stance. Usually not shy, but remains in dense cover. Song performed from cover, but also from exposed song-post and in fluttery display flight.
Voice. Call 'tjuut', 'trr'. Song loud, musical and varied, often thrush-like and imitative.
Distribution. Local and rather rare summer visitor in region. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Densely vegetated places mixed with open sandy or loamy areas, like orchards and groves, especially near hedges of succulents and palm-groves.
Food. Invertebrates and small vertebrates (eg. lizards), some fruits.