The Wildebeest's guide to South Africa
Ant-eating Chat
Afrikaans name: Swartpiek
Photo © Steven Herbert
Myrmecocichla formicivora
The Ant-eating Chat is widely distributed across South Africa. It is found in suitable habitat in most areas apart from the southern and eastern coastal regions. Males are darker in colour compared to the females.
It is normally seen in grassland areas ranging from savanna to hilly slopes.
The Ant-eating Chat spends a lot of its time foraging on the ground. As its name suggests it is particularly fond of ants and termites but it also eats millipedes, grasshoppers and other insects.
They have an interesting breeding set up. The breeding pair are sometimes assisted by their young from the previous year. They dig a burrow and place the nest inside the burrow. Normally the female lays 3 eggs and she tends to the eggs. Both adults feed the chicks.
Roberts Birds Names by Edition
| Edition | Roberts nr | Scientific name |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 575 | Myrmecocichla formicivora formicivora |
| 2nd | 575 | Myrmecocichla formicivora |
| 3rd | 575 | Myrmecocichla formicivora |
| 4th | 575 | Myrmecocichla formicivora |
| 5th | 595 | Myrmecocichla formicivora |
| 6th | 595 | Myrmecocichla formicivora |
| 7th | 792 | Myrmecocichla formicivora |
| Edition | Roberts nr | English name |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 575 | Ant-eating Chat |
| 2nd | 575 | Ant-eating Chat |
| 3rd | 575 | Ant-eating Chat |
| 4th | 575 | Ant-eating Chat |
| 5th | 595 | Anteating Chat |
| 6th | 595 | Anteating Chat |
| 7th | 792 | Ant-eating Chat |
| Edition | Roberts nr | Afrikaans name |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 575 | Swartpiek |
| 2nd | 575 | Swartpiek |
| 3rd | 575 | Swartpiek |
| 4th | 575 | Swartpiek |
| 5th | 595 | Swartpiek |
| 6th | 595 | Swartpiek |
| 7th | 792 | Swartpiek |
References and further reading
The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 57Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 160
Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 91
The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 239
Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 324
Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 516
Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 310
Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 405
Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 521
Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 393
Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 305
Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 302
Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 322
LBJs - Author: Newman, Johnson, Solomon, Masterson - Published: 1998 - Page: 63
Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 322
Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 230
Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 412
Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 35
Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 59
Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 192
Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 92
Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 170
A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 69
Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 207
A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 229
A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 69
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