Robin-chats (Cossypha spp)

[Flutterby]

We saw this robin feeding a red-chested cuckoo in our garden a couple of years ago, and haven't seen it since!

[ExFmem]

Kruger National Park

White-throated Robin-chat

[All-Nature]

Cape Robin-Chat near Witsand in the Western Cape during May.

[Klipspringer]

Cossypha are small insectivorous birds, with most species called robin-chats. They were formerly in the thrush family Turdidae, but are now treated as part of the Old World flycatcher Muscicapidae.

These are African woodland dwelling species, but some have become adapted to sites around human habitation.

The name Cossypha for the genus was introduced by the Irish zoologist Nicholas Aylward Vigors in 1825. The word comes from the Classical Greek kossuphos for a blackbird or thrush.

The genus contains the following species from Southern Africa:

Cossypha anomala Olive-flanked Ground Robin
Cossypha caffra Cape Robin-Chat
Cossypha humeralis White-throated Robin-Chat
Cossypha heuglini White-browed Robin-Chat
Cossypha natalensis Red-capped Robin-Chat
Cossypha dichroa Chorister Robin-Chat

[harrys]

White-browed Robin-Chat Cossypha heuglini

Kruger National Park

[Peter Betts]

One of the many Cheerful birdies that chatted to me during the day at our Tsendze spot ..Red capped Robin Chat a confiding little guy