Mountain Chat
Oenanthe monticola
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyMuscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers, Robins, and Chats)
- GenusOenanthe (Wheatears and Allies)
- SpeciesOenanthe monticola (Mountain Chat)
About the Mountain Chat
The mountain chat or mountain wheatear (Myrmecocichla monticola) is a small insectivorous passerine bird that is endemic to southwestern Africa. This non-migratory chat is resident in mountainous and rocky habitats in Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and southernmost Angola.
The mountain chat is 18–20 cm long, and like other chats, it has a distinctive tail pattern, with a white rump and outer tail feathers. Its legs and pointed bill are black. The male is very variable in plumage, although the tail pattern and a white shoulder patch are always present. A white and black bird. The body plumage varies from pale grey to almost black, and it may or may not have a white crown to the head. The female is entirely dark brown apart from the white rump and outer tail.
The mountain chat's song is a clear melodic whistle interspersed with harsh chatters. It is monogamous and nests on the ground amongst rocks, laying 2-4 white eggs. It eats insects and berries. Along with other chats, this species was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but based on studies published in 2004 and 2010, the Old World flycatcher... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Golden Gate Highlands National Park
Familiar Chat
Oenanthe familiaris
Capped Wheatear
Oenanthe pileata
African Stonechat
Saxicola torquatus
Cape Rockthrush
Monticola rupestris
Buff-streaked Bushchat
Campicoloides bifasciatus
Southern Anteater-Chat
Myrmecocichla formicivora
Sentinel Rock-Thrush
Monticola explorator
Mocking Cliff Chat
Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris
Fiscal Flycatcher
Sigelus silens
Short-toed Rock-Thrush
Monticola brevipes
Sickle-winged Chat
Emarginata sinuata
White-browed Scrub Robin
Erythropygia leucophrys
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Namib-Naukluft National Park | 🇳🇦 Namibia | |
| 2 | Golden Gate Highlands National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 3 | Table Mountain National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 4 | Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 5 | Etosha National Park | 🇳🇦 Namibia | |
| 6 | Kruger National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Mountain Chat in Golden Gate Highlands National Park?
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Mountain Chat sighting in Golden Gate Highlands National Park, based on 55 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Mountain Chat in Golden Gate Highlands National Park?
August has the highest sighting rate for Mountain Chat in Golden Gate Highlands National Park in our monthly data.