Myrmecocichla arnotti
The Arnot's Chat, *Myrmecocichla arnotti*, is a stunningly marked, medium-sized passerine, instantly recognizable by its bold pied plumage. Males are glossy black across the body, wings, and tail, contrasted by prominent white patches on the wing coverts and primaries, often appearing as a broad white shoulder stripe. Females share this striking pattern but typically exhibit a white lower breast and belly, making them slightly less uniformly black. Averaging 16-18 cm in length and weighing ar...
Primarily found in open deciduous woodlands, especially Miombo and Mopane, characterized by scattered tall trees, grassy undergrowth, and patches of bare earth. It typically inhabits elevations from sea level up to around 1,500 meters.
Feeds predominantly on insects, with a strong preference for ants and termites, supplemented by beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and other small invertebrates. Forages mainly on the ground or by sallying from low perches to catch flying insects.
Arnot's Chats are active during daylight hours, often foraging solitarily or in pairs on the ground or from low perches. They are primarily insectivores, employing a "pounce-forage" strategy: scanning from a low vantage point like a termite mound, rock, or tree stump, then darting down to snatch ...
The Arnot's Chat is resident across a broad swathe of sub-Saharan Africa, primarily in the central and southern regions. Its distribution extends from northern Namibia and northern Botswana, through Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, and into parts of Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, ...
Least Concern
- The striking white wing patches are most prominent when the bird is in flight or displaying, making it unmistakable. - Arnot's Chat is often associated with termite mounds, using them as both foraging perches and potential nesting sites. - It is one of several chat species found in the genus *M...