| Rockjumpers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Cape rockjumper (Chaetops frenatus) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Chaetopidae Fjeldsa, Ericson, Johannson, & Zuccon, 2015 |
| Genus: | Chaetops Swainson, 1832 |
| Species | |
Therockjumpers are medium-sized insectivorous or omnivorousbirds in the genusChaetops, which constitutes the entire familyChaetopidae. The two species, theCape rockjumper,Chaetops frenatus, and theDrakensberg rockjumper,Chaetops aurantius, are endemic residents of southernAfrica.[1] The Cape rockjumper is a resident of the West Cape and south-west East Cape, and the orange-breasted (or Drakensberg) rockjumper is distributed in theLesotho Highlands and areas surrounding them inSouth Africa. The two rockjumpers have been treated as separate species but differ in size andplumage. The ranges do not overlap, but come close to doing so.Also found in the mountain of a small town Middelburg in the eastern Cape where they are protected because they are endangered species.[citation needed]
Originally, these birds were placed in thethrushes, and they have also been placed with theOld World warblers and thebabblers, but recent DNA studies indicate these birds are actually members of a basal group of oscines within the infraorderPasseri along with their sister-family therockfowl (Picatharthidae),[2]
Their Latin names derive from descriptions of their appearance. "Frenatus" refers to the "bridled" or black-and-white head pattern, while "Aurantius" refers to the orange coloration.
These are small birds with mostly black, white, and redplumage. Both species have long, white-tipped black tails, black throats, broad white submoustachial lines and eyebrows,rufous or orange bellies and rumps, and grey and black patterned backs and wings. Females have a similar pattern to males, but duller.[1] The iris is red and the bills and legs are black. Their wings are very small and they do not fly very often. They spend most of their lives running and jumping among rocks and grass while hunting insects.
The rockjumpers feed in groups, foraging on the ground. The groups can number up to 6 birds (for Cape) and 12 birds (for Drakensberg), but the groups may also spread out quite widely during feeding.[3][4] Insects are the major part of the diet, although small vertebrates are reported to be taken by Cape rockjumpers.[3] A range of insects are taken, including caterpillars, moths, grasshoppers, beetles and flies. In addition to insects other prey include lizards and geckos, amphibians, scorpions, annelid worms and spiders.Crows often attack the birds because they both eat similar foods, crows would traitor them until they leave the food alone .
They aremonogamous and pairs establishterritories which are defended year round. In the Cape rockjumper the territories vary in size from 4–11 ha (10–27 acres). Both species employ helpers, usually the young of previous broods, to aid the breeding pair in raising the young.[5] Nests are built out of grass on the ground (in contrast to rockfowl, which build mud nests in colonies).[6] The clutch size is two eggs for the Cape rockjumper and two or three eggs for the Drakensberg rockjumper.[1] Both sexesincubate the clutch for 19–21 days. Chicks fledge at 19–21 days, although they are fed by the parents and helpers for up to 4 weeks following fledge.