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Three-streaked tchagra

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Three-streaked tchagra
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Malaconotidae
Genus: Tchagra
Species:
T. jamesi
Binomial name
Tchagra jamesi
(Shelley, 1885)

The three-streaked tchagra (Tchagra jamesi) is a species of bird in the family Malaconotidae, which is an uncommon resident[2] of semi-desert regions in the eastern Afrotropics. The binomial of this bird commemorates the explorer Frank Linsly James, who also had the Frank James Memorial Hospital built in his honour.

Range and habitat

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It is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are dry savanna and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.

Description

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It is a small tchagra, measuring 16–17 cm from bill tip to tail tip.[2] They are distinct from other tchagra species in having a narrow, black median stripe over the crown,[3] without any superciliary stripe.[2] In addition the tertials and rectrices are mouse-brown in colour.

Habits

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The male displays by fripping the wings in flight, followed by a series of down-slurred whistles.[3][2] They feed to a large extent on insects, but may in addition prey on chicks of other birds.[3]

Races

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There are two accepted races:[3]

  • T. j. jamesi (Shelley, 1885) – Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia, inland Kenya and very locally in South Sudan and Tanzania
  • T. j. mandanus (Neumann, 1903) – Kenyan coast and adjacent islands

References

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  1. ^ BirdLife International (2017). "Tchagra jamesi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22707510A118752198. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22707510A118752198.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Sinclair, Ian; Ryan, Peter (2010). Birds of Africa south of the Sahara (2nd ed.). Cape Town: Struik Nature. pp. 596–597. ISBN 9781770076235.
  3. ^ a b c d Fry, H. (2017). "Three-streaked Tchagra (Tchagra jamesi)". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Retrieved 15 April 2017.