Cossypha dichroa
The Chorister Robin-Chat occurs only in South Africa (marginally into Swaziland), where it inhabits evergreen montane and coastal forests from the Garden Route, through the Eastern Cape and Kwazulu-Natal and onto the escarpment of Mpumalanga and Limpopo. Insects, other invertebrates and a variety of fruits and berries make up the biggest part of their diet. At 20cm long and a weight of up to 56g, the Chorister Robin-Chat is the biggest species of Robin-Chat in our country. They have an amazing repertoire of calls, often imitating other birds and even human whistling, dogs barking or the croaking of frogs!
Chorister Robin-Chats breed from October to December, usually in rotten holes in trees which the female lines with moss, leaves, lichens and soft grass. Clutches of 2 or 3 eggs are incubated by the female for 2-3 weeks, with chicks remaining dependent on their parents for up to 8 weeks after hatching.
The IUCN considers the Chorister Robin-Chat to be of least concern, however it also notes that the population is probably declining due to habitat destruction.
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DeWetsWild 
What a beauty! Aren’t we blessed with the most amazing flora and fauna here in SA 🙂
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We couldn’t agree with you more, Zest!
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Hi guys. Another bird that has disappeared from Durban gardens in the past 20 years. I have seen these cure robins in the Pilgrim’s Rest/ Graskop areas of Mpumalanga.
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Hi Kim! We’ve been very lucky with them in the Drakensberg – they’re quite confiding at Giant’s Castle and Tendele.
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What a gorgeous bird! I must get to Africa!
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If ever you get the opportunity to come and visit, Kathy, you really should jump at the chance!
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Another very beautiful bird you have! 🙂 South Africa is truly a paradise for birdwatchers. I can see that the yellow color is different in some pictures, it´s much darker in the last ones. is it the shadow, or can it be so different in the colors?
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They have considerable variation in the brightness of their plumage, John – I think it could perhaps be an adaptation to the denseness of their habitat; those staying in more closed forest habitats being darker than those in more localised pockets of forest patches (such as in the Drakensberg range).
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Mooi foto van die meneer. Hul is besluis baie musikaal as mens dit so kan noem.
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Absoluut Ineke, en gedugte nabootsers!
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You have so many lovely birds in South Africa. I really like this one. (P.S. I voted.)
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This is one of our favourites as well, Deb. Like the other Robin-chats in our country they are rather self-confident and often approach quite close.
Thanks as well for supporting us in the voting for the SA Blog Awards!
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I’m very glad to support you. I really enjoy your blog!
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Thanks again, Deb!
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Two votes for you guys; third strike will be a clean sweep 👊🏻
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Thank you very much for the support, Maurice!
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It reminds me just a bit (at a distance) of a robin, but I like the yellow breast that it has instead of the robin’s orange.
janet
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Thanks, Janet – I bet if you hear it’s singing voice you’d be even more reminded of the robin you’re familiar with. Pity I can’t find a recording that does it justice.
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