Cape grassbird [SEP] parent taxon
Cape grassbird
The Cape grassbird or Cape grass warbler ("Sphenoeacus afer") is an African warbler found in southern Africa.
Taxonomy.
Formerly placed in the Sylviidae family, it is the only member of the genus "Sphenoeacus". The taxonomy of the "African warblers", an assemblage of usually species-poor and apparently rather ancient "odd warblers" from Africa, is currently in a state of flux.
Etymology.
Gr. "sphen" wedge; "oiax" helm/rudder
slopes or in river valleys.
Behaviour.
The Cape grassbird builds a cup nest flow in vegetation. This species is monogamous, pairing for life. Its eggs have one of the slowest rates of embryonic development amongst Southern African species.
The Cape grassbird is usually seen alone or in pairs, moving through vegetation foraging for insects and other small invertebrates.
Conservation status.
This common species has a large range, with an estimated extent of . The population size is believed to be large, and the species