Photo: Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Boulder Chat
Pinarornis plumosus
Boulder Chat (Pinarornis plumosus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Boulder Chat (Pinarornis plumosus) is a member of the Turdidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 65.8 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 Turdidae Thrushes
- Genus Pinarornis
- Species plumosus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 65.8 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Turdidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Boulder Chat is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Boulder Chat is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Boulder Chat (Pinarornis plumosus) belongs to the Turdidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF e Zambia and Malawi to e Botswana and s Zimbabwe.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 65.8 g, with a wing length of about 11.5 cm and a tail of around 12.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 213,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Boulder Chat?
The Boulder Chat is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 65.8 g.
Where does the Boulder Chat live?
The Boulder Chat is found across Africa with a range covering AF e Zambia and Malawi to e Botswana and s Zimbabwe, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Boulder Chat belong to?
The Boulder Chat (Pinarornis plumosus) belongs to the Turdidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Boulder Chat eat?
The Boulder Chat is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Boulder Chat migrate?
The Boulder Chat is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Boulder 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 Boulder Chat make?
1 real field recording of the Boulder Chat — including its duet — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Boulder Chat's range?
The Boulder Chat has a mapped global range of about 213,000 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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