Bar-throated Apalis
A species of Typical Apalises Scientific name : Apalis thoracica Genus : Typical Apalises
Bar-throated Apalis, A species of Typical Apalises
Botanical name: Apalis thoracica
Genus: Typical Apalises
Content
Description General Info
Description
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.
Size
12 cm
Nest Placement
Shrub
Feeding Habits
Bar-throated Apalis consumes a varied diet, consisting primarily of insects such as caterpillars, beetles, and spiders, complemented by berries and seeds. Forages by gleaning from vegetation or hawking prey in the air, sometimes joining mixed-species flocks, with the ability to feed on fruit opened by other bird species.
Habitat
Bar-throated Apalis inhabits a variety of forest environments throughout sub-Saharan Africa. The species thrives in Afromontane, coastal, and montane woodlands, especially favoring locations with dense undergrowth. Bar-throated Apalis adapts from sea-level to highland altitudes, with a penchant for forest edges, disturbed regions, and in some areas, urban gardens with ample tree coverage. Their habitats extend across broad environmental gradients rather than specific locales.
Dite type
Insectivorous
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Behavior
Pairs sing a duetting song with the female's call being higher-pitched than that of the male. 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. This species forages for caterpillars and other insects amongst vegetation, often forming mixed-species flocks with other birds.
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Cisticolas and allies Genus
Typical Apalises Species
Bar-throated Apalis