African Hill Babbler
Sylvia abyssinica
Unusual warbler with a gray head and underparts and a rich brown back. There is some geographical variation, and one subspecies in south and east Tanzania shows a black face. Found in tangles in the mid-story of montane forest. Shy and skulking bird that is usually in small groups. Most often detected by voice: a chatty, up-and-down series of slurred whistles. Somewhat similar to illadopsises, but usually found in the mid-story, not on or near the ground.
识别特征
The African hill babbler is an arboreal robin-like forest bird with a thin bill, bright reddish brown back and a contrasting grey head and nape. The grey underparts are faintly marked with white streaks and the belly is paler than the breast. There is a yellowish tinge to the feathers on the flanks and the thighs. The brown eyes turn red, probably when the birds are breeding. The bill has a black upper mandible, a paler lower mandible and the legs are greyish blue. The African hill babbler weighs 14-25g and their length is 13–15 cm.<p>The song of the African hill babbler is a rich, melodious warble and resembles the songs of thrushes and orioles and is composed of separated whistled phrases with frequent pitch changes, and may have some scratch notes and lower pitched whistles too.
分类信息
The African hill babbler was described by the German naturalist Eduard Rüppell in 1840 under the binomial name Drymophila abyssinica. The type locality is the Simen Mountains, northern Ethiopia.<p>There are currently six recognised subspecies:<p>The distinctive black-headed Rwenzori hill babbler (Sylvia atriceps) has been considered as a subspecies. Fry et al. (2000) state it has the same vocalizations and behaviour as other races, and do not give it the status of a separate species; however, Collar & Robson (2007) split them.<p>This species is now considered a member of the genus Sylvia.
- 学名
- Sylvia abyssinica
- 命名信息
- (Rüppell, 1840)
- 目
- Passeriformes
- 科
- Sylviidae
- 属
- Sylvia
分布与栖息地
The African hill babbler has a disjointed distribution in the highland regions of western and central Africa from southeastern Nigeria east to central Ethiopia and south to northwestern Mozambique. The natural habitats of the African hill babbler are montane forest and adjacent secondary forest, in dense undergrowth at forest edge and in clearings. Also found in gallery forest.
- 迁徙
- Resident species
行为
The African hill babbler lives in pairs which forage within 2m of the ground, gleaning insects from leaves and picking fruit. It will also feed in the canopy and will join mixed species foraging flocks. It usually keeps concealed among creepers and vines and is most often detected by voice.
保护状况
- 种群趋势
- declining
照片
分布
鸟叫声
其他鸟类
White-ringed Flycatcher
Conopias albovittatus
One of several similar flycatchers that are medium-sized, upright, bright yellow below, with bold black-and-white head patterns. White-ringed has a noticeably long thin bill; it’s longer than Social Flycatcher's, for example, but thinner than Great Kiskadee's. The white eyebrow wraps around the back of the head (hence "White-ringed"). Also look for the very black cheek (not gray) and drab brown (not rufous) wings. Usually perches fairly high at the forest edge, often higher up than other similar species.
Black-eared Shrike-Babbler
Pteruthius melanotis
Colorful small bird with a cartoonish large-eyed appearance. Luminous yellow underparts, yellow-green upperparts, and dark rust-colored throat are present in both sexes, but female is slightly paler and not as strongly marked as the male. Overall can be very similar to Clicking and Trilling Shrike-Babblers, but lacks any reddish coloration on the forehead, has a more extensive silvery brow and nape, and is darker overall. Inhabits foothill and montane forests, where it joins mixed-species foraging flocks. Song is high-pitched, rapid, and repetitive: “tweeweeweeweeweeweewee.”
Abyssinian White-eye
Zosterops abyssinicus
A small, sharp-billed warbler-like bird. Note the yellow throat, gray underparts, and narrow white spectacles around the eyes. Found in woodland, montane forest edge, mangroves, gardens, and scrub. Usually in hyperactive flocks, often joining mixed-species flocks. Similar to Heuglin’s White-eye, and some individuals are difficult to separate, but generally shows a narrower eye-ring. Most common call is a high-pitched rising rattle. Song is a quiet, chatty sequence of “chew” notes.
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