Bar-throated apalis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bar-throated apalis |
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| A. t. subsp. flaviventris at Marakele National Park, South Africa | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Apalis
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| Species: |
thoracica
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The bar-throated apalis (Apalis thoracica) is a small, active bird found in Africa. It belongs to a group of birds called passerines, which are often called "perching birds." This little bird is part of the Apalis genus and the Cisticolidae family. You can find it in the eastern and southern parts of Africa, a region known as the Afrotropics.
Contents
Where Does the Bar-throated Apalis Live?
The bar-throated apalis lives in forests and bushy areas. Its home stretches across Southern and East Africa. You can find it from southern South Africa all the way north to the Chyulu Hills in Kenya.
Mountain Homes
In the northern parts of its range, this bird mostly lives in high mountain areas. There are many different types, or subspecies, of the bar-throated apalis. Some of these subspecies live only in certain isolated mountain ranges. Scientists sometimes think these unique groups might even be separate species.
- The Namuli apalis (A. lynesi) lives in Mozambique.
- The yellow-throated apalis (A. flavigularis) is found in Malawi.
- The Taita apalis (A. fascigularis) lives in Kenya.
What Does the Bar-throated Apalis Look Like?
The bar-throated apalis is a slender bird. It has a long tail and is about 11 to 13 cm (4 to 5 inches) long. Its feathers, called plumage, can look different depending on where the bird lives.
Colors and Markings
The upper part of its body can be grey or green. Its belly and chest are either white or a pale yellow. All bar-throated apalis birds have a thin black band across their chest. They also have white feathers on the outer parts of their tail. Their eyes are usually pale. The bird's black beak is quite long and thin, with a slight curve.
Males, Females, and Young Birds
Female bar-throated apalis birds look a lot like the males. However, the black band across their chest is usually narrower. Young birds, called juveniles, have a more yellowish color on their underparts. Their chest band might also be incomplete or not fully formed.
How Do Bar-throated Apalis Birds Behave?
Bar-throated apalis birds often sing together in pairs. This is called a duetting song. The female's call is higher-pitched than the male's.
Nests and Eggs
Their nest is shaped like an oval purse. It is mainly made from plant materials. The female usually lays three eggs. These eggs are bluish-white with reddish-brown spots. The time when they lay eggs and raise their young, called the breeding season, lasts from August to January.
What They Eat
This bird searches for food among plants. It mainly eats caterpillars and other small insects. Sometimes, you can see bar-throated apalis birds joining mixed-species flocks. This means they forage for food with other types of birds.
