Myrmecocichla formicivora
The Ant-eating Chat (*Myrmecocichla formicivora*) is a distinctive and engaging member of the Old World flycatcher family (Muscicapidae), renowned for its specialized diet. Measuring about 18 cm in length and weighing between 30-40 grams, adults are predominantly dark blackish-brown, though often appearing slate-grey in certain light. A key identification feature is the striking white shoulder patch (alar patch), particularly conspicuous in flight but also visible at rest, contrasting sharply...
This chat primarily inhabits open grasslands, savannas, and Karoo scrub, favoring drier environments with scattered bushes, rocks, or termite mounds that serve as prominent perching sites. It is typically found in flat or gently undulating terrain, from sea level up to around 2,000 meters in elev...
The diet of the Ant-eating Chat consists almost exclusively of ants and termites, which they primarily forage for on the ground, actively pursuing their prey. They occasionally supplement this with other ground-dwelling insects like beetles or grasshoppers, and rarely take small berries.
Ant-eating Chats are diurnal birds, active from dawn to dusk, often seen perching conspicuously on bushes, rocks, or fence posts, from which they survey their surroundings. Their foraging strategy is largely terrestrial, involving active ground searches for ants and termites, often chasing fleein...
The Ant-eating Chat is endemic to Southern Africa, boasting a wide and relatively continuous distribution across the region. Its breeding range encompasses much of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), and Lesotho. While predominantly found in the drier, wester...
Least Concern
- The Ant-eating Chat's scientific name, *Myrmecocichla formicivora*, literally translates to "ant-thrush ant-devourer," a perfect description of its specialized diet. - They are one of the few bird species in southern Africa that almost exclusively feed on ants and termites, showcasing a remarka...