This confusing juvenile was our only Rosy-throated Longclaw. These birds have an ocher coloration confined to the belly, a necklace of streaks and a whitish throat. But the key field mark is the faint pink blush on the mid-belly which is difficult to see but shows in these photos. M. a. wintoni is the race in northern Tanzania and adjacent Kenya. HBW recognizes two additional subspecies but admits that they are poorly differentiated and possibly invalid. Other authorities such as the IOC consider the species to be monotypic.
There are eight species of longclaws in the pipit family (Motacillidae). All confined to Africa and all but one is in the genus Macronyx. Longclaws are rather sturdy, upright, terrestrial birds that may remind Americans of the unrelated meadowlarks (Sturnella sp.). In fact, their similarity is often used as a classic example of evolutionary convergence.
Other names used for this species include Rosy-breasted Longclaw and Pink-throated Longclaw.
Nikon P510 Coolpix Point-and-shoot.