10,000 Birds

Orange-throated (Cape) Longclaw Macronyx capensis
Marievale, Gauteng, South Africa (October).

The beautiful Orange-throated (or Cape) Longclaw is a southern African endemic, occurring in Zimbabwe and southern and eastern South Africa. The species is common in coastal and mountain grassland. Usually found in pairs throughout the year, stalking the ground for insects and some seeds. Unobtrusive rather than wary, they are often first seen as they flush flying away on bowed wings, flashing white outer tail feathers, and giving a characteristic cat-like mewing alarm call.

Longclaws somewhat resemble the unrelated meadowlarks of the Americas, especially in alarm flight. This is presumably due to convergent evolution.

All photographs © Charlie Moores