Explore the Heart of South Africa: Nature, Culture, Adventure
Cape Robin-chat
Afrikaans name: Gewone Janfrederik
Cape Robin-chat
Photo © Steven Herbert
Cossypha caffra
The Cape Robin-chat, previously known as the Cape Robin, is a common and familiar bird over much of South Africa. It is found in most areas apart from the extremely arid regions and the far northern border of the country.
These robins are quite at home in any area that has sufficient cover interspersed with open areas. They can be seen hopping along the ground looking for food but quickly flit back into cover when disturbed.
They take a wide range of prey items ranging from small lizards and frogs to insects. They do also eat fruit on occasion.
Cape Robin-chats are normally seen singly but there is normally a number of them around in suitable habitat.
Although they may nest in winter in some areas they more commonly nest in spring. The female makes a cup-shaped nest low down in vegetation or sometimes in a man-made structure. She lays between 1 and 4 eggs and incubates them herself. The male does assist with feeding the chicks.
Roberts Birds Names by Edition
| Edition | Roberts nr | Scientific name |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 581 | Caffrornis caffra |
| 2nd | 581 | Cossypha caffra |
| 3rd | 581 | Cossypha caffra |
| 4th | 581 | Cossypha caffra |
| 5th | 601 | Cossypha caffra |
| 6th | 601 | Cossypha caffra |
| 7th | 766 | Cossypha caffra |
| Edition | Roberts nr | English name |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 581 | Cape Robin |
| 2nd | 581 | Cape Robin |
| 3rd | 581 | Cape Robin |
| 4th | 581 | Cape Robin |
| 5th | 601 | Cape Robin |
| 6th | 601 | Cape Robin |
| 7th | 766 | Cape Robin-chat |
| Edition | Roberts nr | Afrikaans name |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 581 | Janfrederik |
| 2nd | 581 | Janfrederik |
| 3rd | 581 | Janfrederik |
| 4th | 581 | Janfrederik |
| 5th | 601 | Gewone Janfrederik |
| 6th | 601 | Gewone Janfrederik |
| 7th | 766 | Gewone Janfrederik |
References and further reading
Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 61Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 52
Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 158
Southern African Wildlife - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 184
The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 36
The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 57
The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 241
Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 332
Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 44
Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 312
Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 522
Robins of Africa - Author: Terry Oatley and Graeme Arnott - Published: 1998 - Page: 84
Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 526
Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 409
Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 398
Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 324
Newman s Garden Birds - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1991 - Page: 76
Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Published: 1990 - Page: 29
Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 294
Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 309
KwaZulu-Natal - A celebration of biodiversity - Author: Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife - Published: 2002 - Page: 166
Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 85
Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 324
Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 412
Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: P. Ginn & G. McIlleron - Published: 1981 - Page: 23
Geoff Lockwood s Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Published: 0 - Page: 65
Ian Sinclair s Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 232
Field Guide to the West Coast - Author: H. Marshall and B. Mommsen - Published: 1994 - Page: 105
Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 111
Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind - Author: B. Hilton-Barber & Prof. L. R. Berger - Published: 2004 - Page: 185
Everyone s Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 21
Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna - Author: Cliff & Suretha Dorse - Published: 2023 - Page: 188
Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 160
Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 194
Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 60
Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 94
Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 172
Birds of the Kruger and other National Parks - Volume 4 - Author: National Parks Board - Published: 1974 - Page: 18
Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 80
Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 168
Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 210
A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 63
Birds of Africa south of the Sahara - Author: Ian Sinclair and Peter Ryan - Published: 2003 - Page: 450
A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 63
A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 232
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