Photo: Demetrius John Kessy from Arusha, Tanzania / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rosy-throated Longclaw
Macronyx ameliae
Rosy-throated Longclaw (Macronyx ameliae) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rosy-throated Longclaw (Macronyx ameliae) is a member of the Motacillidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 33.5 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 Motacillidae Wagtails, Pipits
- Genus Macronyx
- Species ameliae
Where it lives
Kenya and Tanzania to Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, southern Mozambique, Swaziland and eastern South Africa
Quick facts
- Weight
- 33.5 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Motacillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rosy-throated Longclaw is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Rosy-throated Longclaw is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rosy-throated Longclaw (Macronyx ameliae) belongs to the Motacillidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Kenya and Tanzania to Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, s Mozambique, Swaziland and e South Africa.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 33.5 g, with a wing length of about 9 cm and a tail of around 6.8 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 1.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rosy-throated Longclaw?
The Rosy-throated Longclaw is a small bird that weighs around 33.5 g.
Where does the Rosy-throated Longclaw live?
The Rosy-throated Longclaw is found across Africa with a range covering AF Kenya and Tanzania to Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, s Mozambique, Swaziland and e South Africa, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Rosy-throated Longclaw belong to?
The Rosy-throated Longclaw (Macronyx ameliae) belongs to the Motacillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Rosy-throated Longclaw eat?
The Rosy-throated Longclaw is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Rosy-throated Longclaw migrate?
The Rosy-throated Longclaw is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rosy-throated Longclaw 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 Rosy-throated Longclaw make?
1 real field recording of the Rosy-throated Longclaw — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Rosy-throated Longclaw's range?
The Rosy-throated Longclaw has a mapped global range of about 1.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Motacillidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.