African Wildlife and Environment Issue 72

BIRDING

top of an anthill. This bird also calls in flight. The Yellow-throated Longclaw is widespread in Africa from Senegal to Kenya discontinuously south to South Africa. In southern Africa, it is found in themoist northern and eastern region of Zimbabwe to central and southern Mozambique. In South Africa, it can be seen in the eastern Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal stretching down south to East London. In these regions it is a resident with limited dispersal prior to breeding season (which starts as a response to rain), occurring from dry to moist grassland and vlei margins. Sometimes found in short, overgrazed or burnt grassland, but this species prefers medium to tall rank grass in areas with scattered shrubs or trees. They are usually found in pairs or family groups. This species habitually turns its back to any threat, stands motionless with bill pointed upwards. The Yellow-throated Longclaw roosts on the ground in grass. The flight of this bird is characteristically slow and jerky, flapping and gliding with tail spread showing white outer rectrices. The diet is mostly prey off grass or on the ground, and therefore includes a wide variety of insects, including grasshoppers, beetles, moths, mantids and ants, also millipedes, molluscs and some plant material. They are monogamous and solitary nesters. The nest of the Yellow-throated Longclaw is built by the female, who is accompanied by the male while collecting material. The nest is made of coarse grass blades and stems, lined with fine grass. The nest is a bulky cup, usually well concealed on or just above ground in rank grass, normally under a tussock with overhanging grass blades. The breeding season is from September to January and starts after good rains have fallen. The clutch is usually three eggs which are dull white in colour, with evenly distributed pale grey and brown speckles and streaks. The incubation period is 14 days and done mostly by the female. The incubating bird sits tight, flying off silently at the last moment when disturbed. The Yellow-throated Longclaw male often keeps guard from a prominent perch while the female broods the eggs. Young are fed by both adults and the nestling period is around 17 days. The young are well feathered on leaving the nest, but hardly able to fly. In South Africa they are not threatened, due to their secretive behaviour.

The Late Willie Froneman

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