Redcap Robinchat
Redcap RobinchatRedcap RobinchatRedcap Robinchat

Redcap Robinchat

Cossypha natalensis

Silhouette: Martin Bulla, based on François Desbordes' illustration · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Meru National Park
20 Verified sightings at Meru National Park From 2019 to 2026
2,539 Verified sightings across all 33 parks From 2019 to 2026
November Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Redcap Robinchat

The red-capped robin-chat or Natal robin (Cossypha natalensis) is a species of passerine bird belonging to the family Muscicapidae. This species is found in central and eastern Sub-Saharan Africa. The red-capped robin-chat was first formally described in 1840 by the Scottish zoologist and physician Andrew Smith with its type locality given as near Port Natal in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This species is a member of the genus Cossypha which is classified within the subfamily Erithacinae of the large passerine family Muscicapidae, the chats and Old World flycatchers. However, it has been argued that the name of this clade should be Cossyphinae, as this was proposed by Nicholas Aylward Vigors in 1825 and so predates Gray's 1846 Erithacinae.

The red-capped robin-chat is a polytypic species with 3 subspecies: Cossypha natalensis natalensis (Smith, 1840) - eastern South Africa (Eastern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal) Cossypha natalensis larischi Meise, 1958 - Nigeria to northern Angola

Cossypha natalensis intensa Mearns, 1913 - southeastern Central African Republic, South Sudan, southwestern Ethiopia, and southern Somalia south to Southern Africa. Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Meru National Park

Spotted Flycatcher
LC

Spotted Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Muscicapa striata

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Southern Black Flycatcher
LC

Southern Black Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melaenornis pammelaina

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
White-browed Scrub Robin

White-browed Scrub Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Erythropygia leucophrys

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Northern Wheatear
LC

Northern Wheatear

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oenanthe oenanthe

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Ashy Alseonax

Ashy Alseonax

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Muscicapa caerulescens

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Spotted Morning-Thrush
LC

Spotted Morning-Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cichladusa guttata

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Pied Wheatear
LC

Pied Wheatear

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oenanthe pleschanka

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Isabelline Wheatear
LC

Isabelline Wheatear

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oenanthe isabellina

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Thrush Nightingale
LC

Thrush Nightingale

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Luscinia luscinia

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush
LC

Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Monticola saxatilis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Pale Flycatcher

Pale Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bradornis pallidus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Common Nightingale
LC

Common Nightingale

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Luscinia megarhynchos

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~50%
2 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
3 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
4 Selous Game Reserve 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
5 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
6 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
7 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~10%
8 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~10%
9 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
10 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
11 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
<5%
12 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
<5%
13 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
14 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
15 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
16 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
<5%
17 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
18 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
19 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
<5%
20 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
21 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
22 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
23 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
24 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
25 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
26 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
Insufficient data
27 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
28 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
29 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
30 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
31 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
32 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
Insufficient data
33 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Redcap Robinchat in Meru National Park?

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Redcap Robinchat sighting in Meru National Park, based on 20 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Redcap Robinchat in Meru National Park?

November has the highest sighting rate for Redcap Robinchat in Meru National Park in our monthly data.

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