Ant-eating Chat

The ant-eating chat, also known as the southern anteater-chat, is a bird that exhibits sexual dimorphism. The male of the species presents a striking almost entirely black plumage, while the female is clad in brown with a contrasting grey bill and legs.

Identification Tips

When attempting to identify the ant-eating chat, look for the stark color differences between the sexes. The male's black plumage is a key characteristic, whereas the female's brown coloration and grey bill and legs can help distinguish her from other species.

Habitat

This bird favors the natural habitats of subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, as well as subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, where it can often be spotted.

Distribution

The ant-eating chat has a geographical range that includes several countries in Southern Africa. It can be found in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

Conservation status

The species is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that, at present, it does not face a significant threat of extinction in the wild.