- Colius colius
Identification
Length 32 cm.
Pale grey upper parts, bill mostly white (upper mandible with dark tip), legs and feet coral pink, and centre of back white.
Paler than both the Speckled Mousebird and the Red-faced Mousebird, the other two mousebirds in its range. Greyer than Speckled Mousebird. Tail shorter and flight weaker than Red-faced Mousebird.
Distribution
Western and central South Africa, Namibia and southern Botswana.
Taxonomy
Colius colius has two subspecies:
- C. c. colius - South Africa, from Western Cape Province east to Eastern Cape and Free State, and north to Gauteng
- C. c. damarensis - Namibia and southern Botswana south to northern South Africa (northwestern Northern Cape Province)
Habitat
Shrubby semi-desert and fynbos.
Behaviour
- Breeding: Nest is a large cup which is well hidden in a thicket. The young are fed by both parents and also by helpers, usually young birds from previous clutches.
- Diet: Includes fruits, berries, leaves, seeds and nectar.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Sinclair I & Ryan P. 2003. Birds of Africa south of the Sahara. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0620207299
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) White-backed Mousebird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 1 June 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/White-backed_Mousebird
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
