Explore the Heart of South Africa: Nature, Culture, Adventure

Cape Robin-chat

Afrikaans name: Gewone Janfrederik

Cape Robin-chat

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

EditionRoberts nrScientific name
1st581Caffrornis caffra
2nd581Cossypha caffra
3rd581Cossypha caffra
4th581Cossypha caffra
5th601Cossypha caffra
6th601Cossypha caffra
7th766Cossypha caffra

EditionRoberts nrEnglish name
1st581Cape Robin
2nd581Cape Robin
3rd581Cape Robin
4th581Cape Robin
5th601Cape Robin
6th601Cape Robin
7th766Cape Robin-chat

EditionRoberts nrAfrikaans name
1st581Janfrederik
2nd581Janfrederik
3rd581Janfrederik
4th581Janfrederik
5th601Gewone Janfrederik
6th601Gewone Janfrederik
7th766Gewone Janfrederik

References and further reading

Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 61

Wild 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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