Scientific name: Cichladusa ruficauda
Occurs in a band from Gabon, Congo and eastern DRC to Angola and the extreme north-western region of Namibia. Here it is locally common in gallery forests and riverine woodland, especially with interspersed Northern lala palms.
Its length is 17–18 cm (6.7–7.1 in), and its weight is 22–37 g (0.78–1.31 oz). The sexes are alike. The head and nape are bright rufous-brown. The back, scapulars and the median and greater coverts are also rufous-brown, but are slightly paler. The flight feathers are dark brown, with rufous or rufous-brown edges, and the underwing coverts are pale buffish-brown. The rump and tail are rufous-brown or chestnut. The face and neck-sides are mostly pale grey, with the lores being darker. The chin, throat and upper breast are yellowish-buff. The breast and flanks are pale grey, and the centre of the belly is pale buff. The colour of the eyes ranges from brown to red. The beak is black, and the legs can be pale brown, pale purple or bluish-grey.
It mainly eats invertebrates, such as beetles (Coleoptera) and spiders, doing most of its foraging on the ground but also gleaning food from leaves and branches. It additionally eats the fruit of the Oil palm.
