Bar-throated Apalis
Apalis thoracica
Slim, pretty, long-tailed member of the cisticola family. Shows considerable geographic variation; the back can be olive-green or gray, the crown brown or gray, and the underparts white or yellow. Always shows a white eye, a black band across the chest, and white outer tail feathers. In most of its range, confined to montane forest. In South Africa, also found in dense woodland and thicket. The song varies geographically, but in general, is a duet in which the male gives repeated “chrup” notes while the female gives rapid-fire higher notes.
Identification
The bar-throated apalis is a slender bird with a long tail and is 11 to 13 cm in length. The plumage varies depending on the subspecies: the upper parts can be grey or green while the underparts are white or pale yellow. All forms have a narrow black band across the breast, white outer tail-feathers and a pale eye. The black bill is fairly long and slender and is slightly curved. Females are similar to males but have a narrower breast band. Juveniles have buffer underparts and may have an incomplete breast band.
Taxonomy
Genus: Apalis; Family: Cisticolidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Apalis thoracica
- Authority
- (Shaw, 1811)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Cisticolidae
- Genus
- Apalis
Range and habitat
It inhabits forest and scrub in Southern and East Africa from southern and eastern parts of South Africa north as far as the Chyulu Hills in Kenya. In the northern part of is range it is found only in highland areas where there are a number of subspecies restricted to isolated mountain ranges. Some of these may be treated as separate species including the Namuli apalis (A. lynesi) in Mozambique, yellow-throated apalis (A. flavigularis) of Malawi and Taita apalis (A. fascigularis) in Kenya.
- Migration
- Vertical migration
Behavior
Migration pattern: Vertical migration.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Brown-breasted Pygmy-Tyrant
Hemitriccus obsoletus
Tiny flycatcher found in the understory of forests with bamboo. Plain olive-brown above and pale buff below. Note the buff spot in front of the eye. The similar Drab-breasted Pygmy-Tyrant has a white (not buff) spot in front of the eye and occurs at lower elevations than the Brown-breasted Pygmy-Tyrant. The song is series of “tic-tic-tic” notes.
Gray-capped Cuckoo
Coccyzus lansbergi
Brightly-colored cuckoo found mainly west of the Andes. Combination of rufous-tawny body and gray separates it from other cuckoos in range. Nests in deciduous forest, dense scrub, and savanna at lower elevations. Outside of the breeding season, it disperses widely and can be seen far from its breeding areas, including at high elevations on rare occasions. Furtive and rarely comes out into the open for long. Song is short series of soft, guttural notes; also gives a harsh churr.
Amazon Kingfisher
Chloroceryle amazona
Medium-sized kingfisher of tropical lowlands. Found singly or in pairs, along rivers and at the edges of ponds and lakes, often perched on wires or bare snags. Mainly flies low over the water. Size similar to Belted Kingfisher, but black bill much more massive and crest more tufted. Also differs from Belted in its dark oily-green head and upperparts. Green Kingfisher is much smaller with bold white spots and bars on the wings.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.