Anteater chat

The anteater chat or northern anteater-chat (Myrmecocichla aethiops) is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. Its range extends across the Sahel and the East African montane forests. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, and subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland. The not so well known South African anteater chat is known to live in groups which causes cooperative breeding .^[2] An expert on the Anteater Chat Jon Barnaby says "It reveals a breeding system based around a breeding pair and up to three auxiliary males. Despite equal numbers of males and females produced as fledglings there was a surplus of adult males, which remained philopatric." ^[3]. Though there are equal numbers of both male and female, the females can have up to three males in a breeding group ^[4]. The female can have up to three partners due to the male having a higher life expectancy although, when it comes to breeding it is up to the males to choose the breeding location ^[5]. In Barnaby's abstract he states "There was no indication of birds floating in the population, and if males were orphaned or widowed they joined other groups as unrelated helpers in preference to floating". Floaters are unpaired birds with more variable range and itinerant behavior ^[6]. In the animal kingdom there are several instances when an abandoned or lone animal tries to join another group there is signs of aggression and are very hesitant when settling in with a new group , but that is not the case with the Anteater Chat they show little to none signs of aggression and welcome new members with open wings ^[7]. Since there are no floaters in the groups the unpaired birds are known as helpers in a sense and help with the offspring. Barnaby states in his abstract "In fact all birds in a group helped raise offspring of the breeding pair, and groups with more helpers fledged more offspring, which implies that both direct and indirect fitness benefits can be gained through joining a group and helping" ^[8]. In conclusion, the Anteater Chat is a very interesting species with unique breeding patterns and mannerisms.

Anteater chat
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Muscicapidae
Genus:	Myrmecocichla
Species:	M. aethiops
Binomial name
Myrmecocichla aethiops Cabanis, 1851

It has been observed to nest in abandoned wells in Nigeria ^[9]