Red-collared Babbler

Alternative names: Red-collared Babbler; Red-collared Blackcap

Kupeornis rufocinctus

Identification

A sociable and noisy Babbler of Central Africa (10-20cm):

• Dull olive brown plumage
• Dusky cap, wings and tail
• Rufous neck, breast and rump
• Whitish eye

Distribution

Found in mountain forest of the Albertine Rift region in Africa. Occurs in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in SW Uganda, Rwanda and N Burundi.
Restricted range species which seems to be common in favourable habitat but is only known from a few sites which are in danger of habitat loss.¹

Taxonomy

Monotypic.^{1, 2} Has been considered conspecific with Chapin's Mountain-Babbler and may form a superspecies with it.
Has also been placed in genus Lioptilus, but maybe closer related to Phyllanthus.¹

Habitat

Broadleaf evergreen forest, usually in the very moist areas and in dense bamboo thickets. Found between 1500m and 3200m.¹

Behaviour

Feeds on insects, takes also small fruits. Forages on trunks and branches, probing actively between epiphytes, sometimes hanging head-down. Moves tail constantly.
Gregarious, usually seen in flocks of 3 - 15 birds. Sometimes in bird waves, eg with White-headed Woodhoopoe.
Breeding season from April to June. No other data available.
Resident species.¹

References

1. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553422
2. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Red-collared Babbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 27 September 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Red-collared_Babbler

External Links

Search for photos of Red-collared Babbler in the gallery