Drakensberg Rockjumper (Chaetops aurantius)

Other Names (World)
Drakensberg Rockjumper, Orange-breasted Rock-jumper, Buffy Rockjumper, Drakensberg Rock-jumper

Family
Chaetopidae (Rockjumpers)

Size
23 - 25 cm

First Described (Guide)
Layard, 1867

Habitat
Subtropical and tropical high altitude grassland. From sea-level - 1,800 m.

Range (Guide)

Lesotho (B), South Africa (B).

Lesotho highlands and adjacent South Africa in montane Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape.

Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.

Population
Estimated population is 100,000 - 499,999 (2010).

Status NT
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Voice
Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (5)...)

Drakensberg Rockjumper (Chaetops aurantius) [XC280001]
by Lynette Rudman from Sani Pass road, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa (call)

Drakensberg Rockjumper (Chaetops aurantius) [XC308356]
by Lynette Rudman from Barkly East, Drakensberg District, Eastern Cape, South Africa (call)

Subspecies
No subspecies.

Cape Rockjumper (Chaetops frenatus) and Drakensberg Rockjumper (Chaetops aurantius) (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) are retained as separate species contra Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993) who include aurantius as a subspecies of Cape Rockjumper (Chaetops frenatus).

Commonly treated as conspecific with Cape Rockjumper (Chaetops frenatus), but differs significantly in size, colour of underparts and extent of male's black upper breast; the two species approach each other geographically to within 100 - 150 km. Birds in Lesotho reportedly paler below than those in rest of range, but no subspecies described.

References
See References.

Files:

More Information

BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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