drakensberg rockjumper Chaetops aurantius

A striking, gregarious bird that bounces about on rocky mountain slopes and crags in grassland habitat. The sexes differ: the male has an orange belly and rump, a black throat, and a white moustache; the female is duller, mostly buff underneath with a streaked chest. Pairs and small groups hop about on the ground and forage for insects between tussocks and shrubs. In territorial display, the male spreads and half-cocks his white-tipped black tail and gives a loud, rollicking “tseeur-rip, tseeur-rip, tseeur-rip” and other piping calls. The similar Cape Rockjumper differs from the Drakensberg Rockjumper by having darker chestnut underparts and preferring fynbos habitat.