The Cape Grassbird - Sphenoeacus afer - is Endemic to Southern Africa. Its crown and face sides are rufous, except for white around the eye, and it has black malar and moustachial stripes on its white throat. The upperparts are brown with heavy streaking and the long tail is a lighter brown. The underparts are whitish with blackish spotting. The sexes are similar, but the juvenile has a streaked cap and is duller than the adult. It has a long, pointed, straggly tail.

The song is a rapid jumbled phrase of twittering, musical notes ending in a single down-slurred trill. The alarm note is a catlike “meeew”.

It is a common species of coastal and mountain Fynbos and long, rank grass on mountain slopes or in river valleys. It is usually seen alone or in pairs, moving through vegetation foraging for insects and other small invertebrates. It mainly eats insects, such as beetles, grasshoppers and caterpillars, doing most of its foraging on the ground beneath vegetation.

The Cape Grassbird breeds in Southern Africa, the female builds the nest, which is a bowl built of twigs, grass blades, leaves, lined with finer plant material. Egg-laying is from July to December in the Western Cape. The female lays 2 to 3 eggs, which are incubated solely by the female for 14 to 18 days. Both adults feed the chicks, who leave the nest after 14 to16 days.

This common species has a large range, a fairly large population size, and a conservation status of Least Concern.

This beautiful bird can be seen on any of the following Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures: -

Aves Eastern Cape Birding Tour/Safari/Adventure.

Aves Highlands/Tembe Birding Tour/Safari/Adventure.

Aves KZN Birding Tour/Safari/Adventure.

Aves North East Birding Tour /Safari/ Adventure.

Aves North West Birding Tour/Safari/Adventure.

Aves Western Cape Birding Tour/Safari/Adventure.

Aves West Coast Birding Tour/Safari/Adventure.