Gewone kakelaar [Afrikaans]; Rooibekkakelaar
[Afrikaans]; Intlekibafazi [Xhosa]; iNhlekabafazi (in Swazi this name is applied
to Arrow-marked babbler), uNukani [Zulu]; Musokoto (also applied to
Scimitarbill) [Kwangali]; Haya (name also applied to Great spotted cuckoo)
[Shona]; Yokoywana (also applied to Common scimitarbill) [Tsonga]; Foofoo
[Tswana]; Groene kakelaar [Dutch]; Irrisor moqueur [French]; Steppenbaumhopf
[German]; Zombeteiro-de-bico-vermelho [Portuguese]
Common in central and eastern southern Africa, preferring habitats ranging
from arid savanna to valley bushveld and wooded gardens. It forages on
trees, running up and down trunks and branches locating food, usually
insects but also reptiles, amphibians and seeds. It nests in pre-existing
cavities and lays 2-5 eggs, which are incubated for 17-18 days. The chicks
are fed by helpers, as well as the breeding male and stay in the nest for
28-30 days. By 3-4 weeks after leaving the nest, they can fly strongly, and
they are fully independent 2-3 months after fledging.
Distribution and habitat
Common in central and eastern
southern Africa, with smaller populations in Namibia. it prefers arid and mesic
savannas, open miombo woodland, riverine forest, forest fringes, valley bushveld,
thicket and wooded gardens.
It is an omnivore, foraging mainly on
tree trunks and branches, probing and searching for food, occasionally flying to
the ground to forage. It mainly eats insects, with the occasional fruit or seed.
The following food items have been recorded in its diet:
Nests in pre-existing cavities such as hollows in trees, fenceposts or
buildings. Also uses old woodpecker and
barbet cavities. The following trees
have been used as nest sites in the Eastern Cape:
It can lays its eggs at any time of year, although in drier areas such
as Namibia, laying is usually before or after rain (September-November or
March-June).
It lays 2-5 eggs in successive mornings, in the cavity floor.
Incubation starts with the penultimate or last egg laid, for 17-18 days,
and is done solely by the female. The female is fed by the male and other
group members.
The chicks are fed food collected by a number of helpers as well as the
male. The female is usually the one who feeds the chicks, but the helpers,
especially nonbreeding females, will sometimes try to feed the brood,
sometimes succeeding. The chicks are fed most of the food the adults eat
such as insects, fruit etc. (See Food)
The nestlings stay in the nest for 28-30 days, after which they, with
much difficulty, fly away, although still close to the nest. Parents
feed the juveniles for first 2-3 months after fledging. Sometimes they
noisily coax and cajole juveniles into entering a roost hole, in the
sometime in the 2-3 month
period after leaving the nest. Once the juveniles are settled in, the adults
fly away to nest elsewhere to roost. The juveniles are capable of strong
flight 3-4 months after leaving the nest, after which they are fully
independent.
Threats
Not threatened, although outcompeted for nesting sites in
urban areas by Sturnus vulgaris
(Common starling)
References
Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ and Ryan PG (eds) 2005. Roberts
- Birds of southern Africa, VIIth ed. The Trustees of the John Voelcker
Bird Book Fund, Cape Town.
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