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

Mocking Cliff Chat

Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris

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

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
FamilyMuscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers, Robins, and Chats)
GenusThamnolaea (Cliff-Chats)
SpeciesThamnolaea cinnamomeiventris (Mocking Cliff Chat)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Samburu National Reserve

2 Verified sightings at Samburu National Reserve From 2019 to 2026

1,351 Verified sightings across all 28 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Mocking Cliff Chat

The mocking cliff chat, mocking chat or cliff chat, (Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris) is a species of chat in the family Muscicapidae which occurs in rocky habitats in much of eastern Sub-Saharan Africa. It is the only species placed in the genus Thamnolaea.

The mocking cliff chat was formally described and illustrated in 1836 by the French ornithologist Frédéric de Lafresnaye based on a specimen that had been sent to France from the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. Lafresnaye placed the species with the thrushes in the genus Turdus and coined the binomial name Turdus cinnamomeiventris. The specific epithet combines Modern Latin cinnamomeus meaning "cinnamon-coloured" with Latin venter, ventris meaning "belly". The type locality has been designated as Cape Province. The mocking cliff chat is now the only species placed in the genus Thamnolaea that was introduced in 1851 by the German ornithologist Jean Cabanis. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek θαμνος/thamnos meaning "bush" with λαιος/laios meaning "thrush".

Nine subspecies are recognised: T. c. cavernicola Bates, GL, 1933 – central Mali T. c. bambarae Bates, GL, 1928 – south Mauritania, east Senegal and southwest... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Samburu National Reserve

Cichladusa guttata

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Bradornis microrhynchus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Erythropygia leucophrys

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Oenanthe pleschanka

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Oenanthe isabellina

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Oenanthe oenanthe

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Muscicapa striata

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Melaenornis pammelaina

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Monticola saxatilis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Erythropygia galactotes

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Muscicapa gambagae

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Bradornis pallidus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~30%
2	Kidepo Valley National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~20%
3	Gonarezhou National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~10%
4	Pilanesberg National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
5	Kruger National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
6	Ruaha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~10%
7	Serengeti National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
8	Mkomazi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
9	Lake Nakuru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
10	Masai Mara National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
11	Tarangire National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
12	Addo Elephant National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
13	Kafue National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	<5%
14	Ngorongoro Conservation Area	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
15	Nairobi National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
16	iSimangaliso Wetland Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
17	Golden Gate Highlands National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data
18	Lake Manyara National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
19	South Luangwa National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	Insufficient data
20	Hwange National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	Insufficient data
21	Liwonde National Park	🇲🇼 Malawi	Insufficient data
22	Murchison Falls National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
23	Mana Pools National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	Insufficient data
24	Samburu National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
25	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
26	Queen Elizabeth National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
27	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
28	Kibale National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data

← Back to Samburu National Reserve

Mocking Cliff Chat

About the Mocking Cliff Chat

Recent sightings of Mocking Cliff Chat in Samburu National Reserve

Closest Relatives at Samburu National Reserve

Spotted Morning-Thrush

African Gray Flycatcher

White-browed Scrub Robin

Pied Wheatear

Isabelline Wheatear

Northern Wheatear

Spotted Flycatcher

Southern Black Flycatcher

Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush

Rufous Bush Chat

Gambaga Flycatcher

Pale Flycatcher

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found