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 <5% · Rare
at Volcanoes National Park
20 Verified sightings at Volcanoes National Park From 2019 to 2026
2,539 Verified sightings across all 33 parks From 2019 to 2026
August 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 Volcanoes National Park

White-browed Robin-Chat
LC

White-browed Robin-Chat

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cossypha heuglini

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Archer's Robin-Chat

Archer's Robin-Chat

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cossypha archeri

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat
LC

Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cossypha niveicapilla

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
African Stonechat
LC

African Stonechat

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Saxicola torquatus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher

White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dioptrornis fischeri

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
African Dusky Flycatcher
LC

African Dusky Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Muscicapa adusta

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
White-starred Robin
LC

White-starred Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pogonocichla stellata

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Swamp Flycatcher
LC

Swamp Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Muscicapa aquatica

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Ashy Alseonax

Ashy Alseonax

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Muscicapa caerulescens

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Familiar Chat
LC

Familiar Chat

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oenanthe familiaris

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Red-throated Alethe
LC

Red-throated Alethe

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chamaetylas poliophrys

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Pale Flycatcher

Pale Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bradornis pallidus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

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 Volcanoes National Park?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Redcap Robinchat sighting in Volcanoes National Park, based on 20 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

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

August has the highest sighting rate for Redcap Robinchat in Volcanoes National Park in our monthly data.

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