Least Concern Birds

White-browed Robin-Chat

Cossypha heuglini

White-browed Robin-Chat eats insects in African savannas and river valleys.

Scientific name	Cossypha heuglini
Swahili name	Mswaki mweupe wa kozi
Conservation status	Least Concern
Class	Aves
Order	Passeriformes
Family	Turdidae
Size	Male: approximately 20-22 cm, weight about 30-40 g; female: similar size, slightly lighter weight

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How to identify

Distinct white eyebrow stripe running above the eye; chest orange-red; back and wings gray-brown; tail relatively long, often wagged up and down; voice clear and melodious

Habitat

Open woodland savanna, shrubs, edges of valleys, and secondary forests

Diet

Omnivorous, primarily feeding on insects, spiders, and small invertebrates, also consumes fruits and berries

When it is active

Diurnal, more active in early morning and late afternoon

Where it lives

Distributed in East Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and neighboring areas; commonly found in Maasai Mara National Reserve

How to spot it

Look for it at dawn or dusk near shrub edges or valley areas, note its active tail wagging and clear melodious calls

Photography tips

Use a telephoto lens to capture details, choose soft light in early morning or late afternoon, keep background simple to highlight bird’s coloration

Threats

Habitat destruction and degradation, agricultural expansion, and human activity impacts

Similar species

Similar to the Red-chested Robin-Chat (Cossypha natalensis), but the White-browed Robin-Chat has a more distinct eyebrow stripe and a more orange-red chest; the Red-chested Robin-Chat has a darker red chest

📖 how to spot the white browed robin chat on safari