Longclaw
From Free net encyclopedia
{{Taxobox | color = pink | name = Longclaws | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Aves | ordo = Passeriformes | familia = Motacillidae | subdivision_ranks = Genera | subdivision =
- Macronyx
}} The longclaws are a group of small passerine birds with long tails, which they wag frequently. They are restricted to Africa
They are in the same family as the pipits and wagtails.
Longclaws are slender, often colourful, ground-feeding insectivores of open country. They are ground nesters, laying up to four speckled eggs.
They are named for their unusually long hind claws, which are thought to help in walking on grass.
There are eight species, all in Macronyx.
- Cape Longclaw, Macronyx capensis
- Yellow-throated Longclaw, Macronyx croceus
- Fulleborne’s Longclaw, Macronyx fuellebornii
- Sharpe’s Longclaw, Macronyx sharpei
- Abyssinian Longclaw, Macronyx flavicollis
- Pangani Longclaw, Macronyx aurantiigula
- Rosy-breasted Longclaw, Macronyx ameliae
- Grimwood’s Longclaw, Macronyx grimwoodi.
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