Alternative names: Dohrn's Flycatcher; Principe Flycatcher-Babbler
- Horizorhinus dohrni
Identification
At 14 - 15 cm, a small, babbler-like passerine:
- Grey and olive above
- Yellowish-white below
- Prominent dark breastband
- Long, deep bill
Sexes similar, juveniles like adults.
Distribution
Endemic to Principe Island in the Gulf of Guinea (Africa).
Restricted-range species, but abundant and not threatened.1
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.1, 2
Relationships uncertain and further study needed. Has been considered to be a Thrush, an Old World Warbler or an Old World Flycatcher. Due to bill morphology and voice (resembling Mountain-Babblers) placed in the Babblers.1
Habitat
Bushes and small trees, primary forest, secondary forest, cocoa plantations, coconut plantations, villages. Found at all elevations.
Behaviour
Usually seen in pairs or small groups of up to 8 birds, sometimes more. Noisy. Associates sometimes with Principe Golden-Weaver and Principe Glossy-Starling.
Resident species.1
Diet
Feeds on insects and small snails. Takes also berries and seeds. Forages low in understorey and undergrowth, inspecting undersides of branches and sallies after insects.
Breeding
Breeding season from June to September, probably also in other months. The nest is a fragile cup made of dry leaves and dead grass. One reported nest held two young.
References
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 1994. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 2: New World Vultures to Guineafowl. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334153
- Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Dohrn's Thrush-Babbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 19 April 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Dohrn%27s_Thrush-Babbler
