- Platysteira hormophora
Identification
10–11cm (4-4¼ in)
Male
- Glossy black upperparts
- White underparts and rump
- Black breast band
- Grey bare skin (eye wattle) around eye
- Dark brown iris
Female
- Dull brownish-black
- Grey head
- White belly and chin
- Chestnut chest and sides to head
Distribution
Found in West Africa from Sierra Leone to Togo.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
It was formerly considered conspecific with Chestnut Wattle-eye.
This species is placed in the genus Dyaphorophyia by some authorities[2].
Habitat
Swamps, damp savanna, moist lowland forests to 1,800m.
Behaviour
A shy forest bird.
Diet
The diet consists of arthropods, beetles, small fruits, berries and seeds.
Breeding
Monogamous. Its nest is small and cup-shaped; 1-2 glossy blue-green eggs are incubated by the female for 17 days.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Birdforum thread with Wattle-eye phylogeny discussed in post 15
- Answers.com
- novelguide.com
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved February 2017)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) West African Wattle-eye. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 15 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/West_African_Wattle-eye
