Cape Batis

Batis capensis (Linnaeus, 1766)

Cape Batis, Batis capensis, is a passerine of the Platysteiridae family that breeds in Zimbabwe, western and southern Mozambique, and South Africa. It is a resident bird of cool coastal forest, moist evergreen mountain forest and wooded gorges. Its range is tied to southern Africa, including Afromontane forest. The species is notable for its strongly patterned plumage. Adult males show a grey crown, black face mask, white throat, brown upperparts, a black rump and tail, rufous wings, and white underparts with a broad black breast band and rufous flanks. Females and young birds have a narrower rufous breast band and a small rufous throat patch.

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Platysteiridae — Wattle-eyes, Batises

Breeding range

Africa: Zimbabwe, w, s Mozambique and South Africa