The Capped Wheatear (Oenanthe pileata livingstonii) is a common small migratory African songbird.
The Capped Wheatear has a black cap, black cheeks, and a black chest band. It has a white eye stripe and a white throat. It has white underparts, with buff patches. Its wings are brown with black streaks. Its tail, beak, and legs are black.
It grows to about 18 centimetres (7 inches) tall.
The Capped Wheatear is found in east Africa and southern Africa. It prefers open, dry, sandy, and stony habitats and short grasslands with a few bushes and termite mounds.
It feeds on insects, ants, and termites.
It is solitary and migratory. It is a low-flying bird, mainly hopping along the ground.
It mates for life. It builds a nest of straw, grass, and leaves in a hole in the ground or in a termite mound. Females lay 3-4 eggs.
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM