Alternative names: Grey-breasted Oliveback; White-cheeked Oliveback; White-cheeked Olive Weaver; White-cheeked Waxbill
- Nesocharis capistrata
Identification
14cm (5½ in).
- Grey crown, nape, neck and most of underparts
- Olive to golden-olive upperparts and tail
- Greyish-brown upperwing, wing edged yellowish-olive
- White forehead, lores and face to behind eye and cheek
- Dark grey eyering
- Black bill
- Black bib from chin to throat, extending laterally becoming a half-collar across neck
- Yellow flanks
Sexes similar. Juveniles are similar to adults but have a darker grey, a grey face patch, olive-buff flanks and a grey bill.
Distribution
From Guinea-Bissau and Guinea east to Central African Republic, southwestern South Sudan, northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and western Uganda.
Vagrant to Gambia.
Uncommon to scarce in its range.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
Recent studies suggest that this species is closer related to the genus Estrilda than the other Olivebacks and may merit placement in a separate genus (which would probably be named Delacourella).
Habitat
Found at forest edge, grassy savanas, woodland along rivers, undergrowth and near swamps, streams and rivers. Occurs in Uganda below 1200m.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on seeds of wild figs, other fruits and grasses. Takes also small insects and snails. Forages from the ground up to the canopy. An acrobatic species, gleans leaves and twigs and flies from leaf to leaf.
Usually seen in pairs or singly.
Breeding
Nest-building recorded from July to August in Togo, breeding season June to July in Nigeria, July to October in DR Congo and May to June in Uganda. The nest is a hollow tangle with a side entrance and made of dry weeds and grass stems. It's placed ca. 2.5m above the ground in a fork of a bush or a tree. Lays 3 to 5 eggs.
Movements
A resident species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2010. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 15: Weavers to New World Warblers. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553682
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Grey-headed Oliveback. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 30 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Grey-headed_Oliveback
