Drakensberg Rockjumper

Drakensberg Rockjumper
Adult male
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Chaetopidae
Genus:	Chaetops
Species:	C. aurantius
Binomial name
Chaetops aurantius Layard, 1867
General range: the Drakensberg alti-montane grasslands

The Drakensberg Rockjumper or Orange-breasted Rock-jumper (Chaetops aurantius) is a medium-sized insectivorous passerine bird endemic to the mountain fynbos of the Drakensberg Mountains of southeastern South Africa. It is sometimes included with the allopatric Rufous Rock-jumper in C. frenatus; the two are the only living species of the Chaetopidae (rock-jumper family) if this is not merged with the Picathartidae (rockfowl).

This rock-jumper is 23–25 cm long with a long black tail and strong legs. The male has a dark grey head with a thin white supercilium and a broad white moustache. The back and wings are dark grey. The underparts are orange and the rump is rufous red. The female and juvenile have a paler grey head, upperparts and wings, a duller head pattern, an orange rump, and buff underparts. The call is a loud wheeoo.

The Rufous Rock-jumper male has rufous red underparts, and the female and young are darker buff below than in C. aurantius.

This is a ground-nesting species which forages on rocky slopes and scree. It frequently perches on rocks. The Rufous Rock-jumper uses one or two additional individuals, usually a pair's offspring of the preceding breeding season, to assist the parents in territorial defence and alarm calling, and in the feeding of nestlings and fledglings. Given the great similarities between the species, it is likely that Drakensberg Rockjumper uses a similar strategy.

References

• Ian Sinclair, Phil Hockey and Warwick Tarboton, SASOL Birds of Southern Africa (Struik 2002) ISBN 1-86872-721-1
• Richard T. Holmes, Bernhard D. Frauenknecht, Morné A. Du Plessis. Breeding system of the Cape Rockjumper, a South African fynbos endemic. The Condor. Volume 104, February 2002