Batises and Wattle-eyes (Platysteiridae)
Cape Batis (Batis capensis) - HBW 11, p. 186
French: Pririt du Cap
German: Kapschnäpper
Spanish: Batis de El Cabo
Other common names: Puff-back Flycatcher; Malawi Batis (sola, dimorpha)
Taxonomy: Muscicapa capensis Linnaeus, 1766, Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.
Forms a superspecies with B. reichenowi, B. mixta, B. crypta and B. fratrum, probably also with B. margaritae and B. diops. Sometimes considered conspecific with B. reichenowi. Along with latter, races dimorpha and sola regarded by some authors as intergrades with B. mixta, or as races of a separate species (male plumage differences greater than those between several reputedly “good” species); further study required. Further, nominate race and hollidayi possibly overlap geographically in E South Africa (KwaZulu-N.. View all taxonomy...
Taxonomy: Muscicapa capensis Linnaeus, 1766, Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.
Forms a superspecies with B. reichenowi, B. mixta, B. crypta and B. fratrum, probably also with B. margaritae and B. diops. Sometimes considered conspecific with B. reichenowi. Along with latter, races dimorpha and sola regarded by some authors as intergrades with B. mixta, or as races of a separate species (male plumage differences greater than those between several reputedly “good” species); further study required. Further, nominate race and hollidayi possibly overlap geographically in E South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal), indicating that latter may represent a separate species. Population on Mt Namuli, in N Mozambique, currently placed in dimorpha, but may represent a separate, as yet undescribed race. Six subspecies recognized.
Forms a superspecies with B. reichenowi, B. mixta, B. crypta and B. fratrum, probably also with B. margaritae and B. diops. Sometimes considered conspecific with B. reichenowi. Along with latter, races dimorpha and sola regarded by some authors as intergrades with B. mixta, or as races of a separate species (male plumage differences greater than those between several reputedly “good” species); further study required. Further, nominate race and hollidayi possibly overlap geographically in E South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal), indicating that latter may represent a separate species. Population on Mt Namuli, in N Mozambique, currently placed in dimorpha, but may represent a separate, as yet undescribed race. Six subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- sola Lawson, 1964 - N Malawi and, locally, Zambia (Nyika Plateau, Mukuta and Mafinga Mts).
- dimorpha (Shelley, 1893) - mountains of C & S Malawi, and adjacent N Mozambique (Mt Namuli).
- kennedyi Smithers & Paterson, 1956 - Matopo Hills, in SW Zimbabwe.
- sola Lawson, 1964 - N Malawi and, locally, Zambia (Nyika Plateau, Mukuta and Mafinga Mts).
- dimorpha (Shelley, 1893) - mountains of C & S Malawi, and adjacent N Mozambique (Mt Namuli).
- kennedyi Smithers & Paterson, 1956 - Matopo Hills, in SW Zimbabwe.
- erythrophthalma Swynnerton, 1907 - E highlands of Zimbabwe and adjacent Mozambique.
- hollidayi Clancey, 1952 - NE South Africa (S from Soutpansberg), Swaziland and adjacent S Mozambique (Lebombo Highlands).
- capensis (Linnaeus, 1766) - S South Africa (Western Cape E to W Kwazulu-Natal) and E Lesotho.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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A bird singing and then calling from different perches Locality Harold Porter Botanical Gardens, Western Cape Province, South Africa (ssp capensis)
Keith Blomerley 10 October 2004 7 years ago 24 sec 4.6 -
Different views of a male in a tree Locality Betty’s Bay, Western Cape Province, South Africa (ssp capensis)
Helmut Schenkel Brunner 31 July 2003 5 years ago 13 sec 4.5 -
A female foraging and then consuming a small caterpilla Locality Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Cape Town, Western Cape Province, South Africa (ssp capensis)
Greg Baker 23 September 2002 38 weeks ago 23 sec 4.5 -
A male perched on a branch and flying away Locality KwaZulu Natal Province, South Africa (ssp hollidayi)
Francesc Capdevila i Torr... 14 October 2002 9 years ago n/a 4.1 -
A female actively foraging before flying away Locality Tsitsikamma National Park, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa (ssp capensis)
Greg Baker 5 October 2002 33 weeks ago 13 sec 4 -
A male perched before flying away Locality Chelinda, Nyika Plateau, Northern Region, Malawi (ssp sola)
Greg Baker 23 October 2005 28 weeks ago 18 sec 3.6
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Male on a branch
Locality Zomba Plateau, Southern Region, Malawi (ssp dimorpha)
Roland Bischoff 11 September 2009 2 years ago 4.7 -
female
Locality Zomba Plateau, Southern Region, Malawi (ssp dimorpha)
Roland Bischoff 11 September 2009 2 years ago 4.3 -
A female perched low in a tree.
Locality Harold Porter Botanical Gardens, Western Cape Province, South Africa (ssp capensis)
David Beadle 29 January 2011 1 year ago 3.7 -
On beautiful Batis
Locality Dlinza Forest Nature Reserve, KwaZulu Natal Province, South Africa
Guy Poisson 8 November 2012 22 weeks ago 3.6 -
Bird in the forest
Locality Wilderness National Park, Wilderness, Western Cape Province, South Africa (ssp capensis)
Johannes Pfleiderer 19 September 2011 1 year ago 3.6 -
Adult male foraging through understory
Locality Wildcliff Nature Reserve, Heidelberg, Western Cape Province, South Africa (ssp capensis)
Conan Guard 4 years ago 3.3
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Scratchy calls recorded in forest along the Nahoon River. 6:47am. Locality Nahoon River, East London, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
(ssp capensis)
Charles Hesse 10 January 2010 3 years ago 3
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