Moustached Grass-Warbler
Melocichla mentalis
Large, unusual brown warbler with a black tail, pale eye, and black “moustache” mark. Found in patches of tall, thick grass within savanna and scrub habitats. Generally skulking, and most often seen when it sits up to sing. The song is a chatty, warbling jumble with a distinctive fast cadence. Similar in overall shape and habitat to Fan-tailed Grassbird, but much larger, with a pale eye and black facial streak.
Identification
The moustached grass warbler (Melocichla mentalis) is a species of African warbler, formerly placed in the family Sylviidae. It is widely found throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, although absent in southern parts of the continent. Its natural habitats are moist savanna and subtropical or tropical moist shrubland.
Taxonomy
Genus: Melocichla; Family: Macrosphenidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Melocichla mentalis
- Authority
- (Fraser, 1843)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Macrosphenidae
- Genus
- Melocichla
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Beautiful songbird, bright rust-orange above, gray below, with white undertail coverts and blue skin around the eye. Inhabits montane forests, from which it descends into foothills in winter. Social and noisy; gives a wide range of different whistling, hooting, and clucking noises.
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