Photo: KrisMaes / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rüppell’s Robin-Chat
Cossypha semirufa
Rüppell's Robin-Chat (Cossypha semirufa) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rüppell’s Robin-Chat (Cossypha semirufa) is a member of the Muscicapidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 27.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Muscicapidae Chats, Old World Flycatchers
- Genus Cossypha
- Species semirufa
Quick facts
- Weight
- 27.3 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rüppell’s Robin-Chat is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Rüppell’s Robin-Chat is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rüppell’s Robin-Chat (Cossypha semirufa) is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF e.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 27.3 g, with a wing length of about 7.9 cm and a tail of around 7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 866,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rüppell’s Robin-Chat?
The Rüppell’s Robin-Chat is a small bird that weighs around 27.3 g.
Where does the Rüppell’s Robin-Chat live?
The Rüppell’s Robin-Chat is found across Africa with a range covering AF e, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Rüppell’s Robin-Chat belong to?
The Rüppell’s Robin-Chat (Cossypha semirufa) belongs to the Muscicapidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Rüppell’s Robin-Chat eat?
The Rüppell’s Robin-Chat is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Rüppell’s Robin-Chat migrate?
The Rüppell’s Robin-Chat is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rüppell’s Robin-Chat endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Rüppell’s Robin-Chat make?
1 real field recording of the Rüppell’s Robin-Chat — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Rüppell’s Robin-Chat's range?
The Rüppell’s Robin-Chat has a mapped global range of about 866,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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