By: BRUCE MUNRO
THE mocking chat is a common resident that enjoys a habitat of well-wooded, rocky gorges, dongas, cliffs and boulder-strewn hillsides in the central and eastern half of Southern Africa.
The name mocking chat is derived from a quiet rumble of imitating calls and songs of other birds.
At least 30 different species have been recorded. In addition it has a clear, powerful and fluty warble with little or no imitation of other birdsong.
LISTEN:
They are found in small groups of four to five birds. They run quickly on the ground, along rocks or thick branches, sometimes with the tail raised.
They forage by dropping to the ground from a perch or searching branches for fruit or insects.
The mocking chat has a low flight, with gliding and flapping. Its wings make a soft swishing sound and on landing, they raise their tail slowly and exaggeratedly. They become tame around human settlements.
Breeding takes place from August to December. They lay two to four creamy white or pale blue eggs spotted with red-brown or mauve speckles.
The nest is a bowl of felted dassie or antelope hair, often taken live from the host animal.
Incubation is 14 to 16 days and they are nestlings for 19 to 21 days. The bird’s Zulu name is iQumutsha-lamawa and in Afrikaans, the dassievoel.
