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
- 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
Pairs sing a duetting song with the female's call being higher-pitched than that of the male.<p>The oval, purse-shaped nest is made mainly of plant material. Three eggs are laid, these are bluish-white with reddish-brown spots. The breeding season lasts from August to January.<p>This species forages for caterpillars and other insects amongst vegetation, often forming mixed-species flocks with other birds.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Bat-like Spinetail
Neafrapus boehmi
Extraordinary short-tailed swift with weak, fluttery, bat-like flight. Note the pale underparts and white rump patch. Seen on the wing over woodland, gallery forest, and moist savannah, especially miombo. Often in areas with baobabs, which are favored nesting sites. Usually solo or in pairs. Range does not overlap with that of the similar Sabine’s Spinetail. All other swifts have a longer tail.
Jackson's Hornbill
Tockus jacksoni
A medium-sized black-and-white hornbill. Males have a mostly red bill with a small yellow or white tip; females have an all-black bill. Both sexes show white spotting across the wing. Found locally in dry savanna, usually in pairs or small groups. Similar to Von der Decken’s and Northern Red-billed Hornbills, but separated from the former by the white-spotted wing and from the latter by the yellow-tipped (male) or all-black (female) bill. The call is a series of low clucks.
Scaled Flowerpiercer
Diglossa duidae
Small, dark flowerpiercer with typical upturned, hooked bill. Slaty-blackish body with grayish spotted or scaled underparts and mostly black wings. Sexes similar. Common, usually alone or in pairs, piercing flowers in shrubby areas and forest edges. Call a high-pitched note typical of flowerpiercers; song a four-note “chip ZEET ZEET zeet.” No overlap with other flowerpiercers in its limited range in the Pantepui region of southern Venezuela and adjacent Brazil.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.