Near-endemic to southern Africa, occurring from South
Africa through Namibia to extreme south-western Angola. It generally prefers
fynbos, renosterveld and Karoo scrub, occasionally moving into thickets of alien
plants, such as Jackson willow (Acacia saligna) and Rooikrans (Acacia
cyclops).
The nest is a ball shape with a side entrance, built of grass and bark
shreds from Lammerlat (Asclepias buchenaviana), or alternatively
using hairy flower stems with the attached seeds of Galium tomentosum
(Old-man's beard creeper). During incubation a lining of soft plant down is
added, often extracted from Karoo rosemaries (Eriocephalus). It is
typically placed close to the ground in a shrub or grass tuft, the leaves of
which are often incorporated into the nest.
Egg-laying season is from July-January, peaking from about
August-October.
It lays 2-5 eggs, which are incubate for about 12-14 days.
The chicks stay in the nest for about 11-16 days.
Threats
Not threatened.
References
Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ and Ryan PG 2005. Roberts
- Birds of southern Africa, VIIth ed. The Trustees of the John Voelcker
Bird Book Fund, Cape Town.
