Mountain Wheatear / Mountain Chat

Afrikaans name: Bergwagter

Male Mountain Wheatear

Photo © Steven Herbert

Oenanthe monticola

The Mountain Wheatear, also known as the Mountain Chat, is only found in South Africa and Namibia, although their range extends into south-west Angola.

Their preferred habitat is rocky hillsides with some bushes. They can often be seen perched on rocks in these areas.

They will feed on most insects that they can find as well as spiders and centipedes.

Female Mountain Wheatears are responsible for making the nest. This is an untidy structure which is made from a variety of dry materials. It is normally placed in a crack in the rocks or underneath an overhanging rock. They have also been known to make use of man-made structures like pipes. They have an extended breeding season from around June to March. The female incubates the 2 to 4 eggs while the male protects their territory. Both parents feed the chicks.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	564	Dromolaea monticola monticola
2nd	564	Oenanthe monticola
3rd	564	Oenanthe monticola
4th	564	Oenanthe monticola
5th	586	Oenanthe monticola
6th	586	Oenanthe monticola
7th	783	Myrmecocichla monticola

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	564	Mountain Chat
2nd	564	Mountain Chat
3rd	564	Mountain Chat
4th	564	Mountain Chat
5th	586	Mountain Chat
6th	586	Mountain Chat
7th	783	Mountain Wheatear

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	564	Berg-tapuit
2nd	564	Bergtapuit
3rd	564	Bergwagter
4th	564	Bergwagter
5th	586	Bergwagter
6th	586	Bergwagter
7th	783	Bergwagter

References and further reading

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 234

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 53

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 160

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 99

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 35

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 324

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 513

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 508

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 306

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 396

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 386

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 300

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 300

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 318

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 318

LBJs - Author: Newman, Johnson, Solomon, Masterson - Published: 1998 - Page: 62

Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna - Author: Cliff & Suretha Dorse - Published: 2023 - Page: 190

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 158

Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 78

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 230

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 57

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 189

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 91

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 166

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 68

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 205

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 166

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 77

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 226

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 68

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds