Within the genus of Macronyx, which is closely associated to the Pipits and Wagtails, the seven species are only found in Africa, with the sub-region host to three strikingly colourful members of the suite.
Foremost, and the most frequently encountered, is the Cape or Orange-throated Longclaw, enjoying widespread distribution throughout the mountains and grasslands of Southern Africa.
Typically, the curved and elongated hind claw, as illustrated, is an adaption to a terrestrial lifestyle associated with the foraging behaviour of these sexually alike and relatively lark-like birds in general appearance, apart from their strikingly distinctive and colourful throats and underparts.
Similar in appearance to the dominant ‘orange-throated’ form in Southern Africa, is the Yellow-throated Longclaw, with a pronounced habitat preference for dry grassland away from water, but with an opportunistic penchant for recently burnt areas, and open scrubland and bushveld grassland.
And then there is the Rosy-throated Longclaw, by far the most difficult to locate of the three species. It is only found in tussocky grassland along the KwaZuluNatal and Mozambique coastal strip, particularly in seasonally flooded areas, as well as marsh edges, swampland, river estuaries and coastal lagoons.
Habitat preference serves to eliminate species overlap within the known distribution range of these colourfully plumaged and charismatic grassland residents of the higher rainfall areas within Southern Africa.