Kikuyu White-eye
Zosterops kikuyuensis
A small, sharp-billed warbler-like bird. Note the olive-green back, the yellow underparts with broad olive flanks, and the very broad white spectacles around the eyes. Found in the highlands of central Kenya, in montane forest, forest edge, exotic tree plantations, and lush gardens and scrub. Usually in hyperactive pairs or flocks. Separated from similar broad-ringed white-eyes by range. Somewhat similar to African Yellow and Pale White-eyes, but found at higher elevations, and eye-ring is much broader. Song is a subdued, chatty sequence of “chew” notes. Calls include a high-pitched rising rattle, chattering notes, and “chew” notes like those from the song.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Zosterops kikuyuensis
- Authority
- Sharpe, 1891
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Zosteropidae
- Genus
- Zosterops
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- unknown
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Black-billed Mountain-Toucan
Andigena nigrirostris
Distinctive toucan of montane forests in the Andes from Venezuela to extreme northwest Peru. Easy to identify with black cap, dark bill, white throat, powder blue belly, and mostly brownish upperparts. Occurs from 1,500-2,500m, typically below the elevational range of Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan but occasionally some overlap. Uncommon; usually found singly or in pairs in the forest canopy, often around fruiting trees.
Rock Tapaculo
Scytalopus petrophilus
A small mostly gray tapaculo with brown and rusty streaks on the belly and vent. The tail is short and usually held cocked. Inhabits rocky and shrubby areas at high elevations where it forages by hopping on the ground. The song is a long and repeated series of “chip-chip-chip” notes.
Sumba Buttonquail
Turnix everetti
A tiny, nearly tailless quail-like bird with a heavy bill, an orange-rufous chest patch, a pale whitish undertail, and dark, heavily streaked, cryptically patterned upperparts. Small groups inhabit native grasslands and scrub in lowlands and on low ridges. Confined to Sumba. Differs from Red-backed Buttonquail in lacking red facial areas, lacking bold spotting along its flanks, showing a whitish undertail, and possessing a stouter gray bill without yellow coloration. In flight, it also shows heavier streaking above than Red-backed Buttonquail. Calls of Sumba Buttonquail are currently unknown.
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