Angola batis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Angola batis |
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The Angola batis (Batis minulla) is a small, colorful bird found in parts of western central Africa. It's known for its restless nature and pretty black, white, and grey feathers. This bird belongs to the Platysteiridae family, which includes other batises.
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What Does the Angola Batis Look Like?
The Angola batis is a small songbird with a mix of colors, like black, white, and grey. It looks a bit plump and is always moving around.
Male and Female Birds
Adult male Angola batises have a bluish-grey forehead and the top of their head. They have a small white spot near their eyes. A shiny black mask covers their eyes and goes down the sides of their neck. There's also a white spot on the back of their neck.
Their back is grey, and their shoulder feathers are blackish. The lower back and tail feathers are blackish-grey with white spots. Their wings have black flight feathers with thin white edges. You can also see a white stripe on their wings. The tail is black with white feathers on the outside.
The underside of the bird is white. It has a black band across its chest. The feathers under its tail are greyish. Its eyes are bright yellow, and its beak and legs are black.
Female Angola batises look much like the males. The main difference is that the female has a chestnut (reddish-brown) band across her chest instead of a black one. These birds are about 10 cm (3.9 in) long. They weigh around 10.4 g (0.37 oz).
What Does It Sound Like?
We don't know much about the calls of the Angola batis. Its special call to mark its territory is a series of high-pitched notes. People describe it as "zee-zee-zee-zee-zee." Some say it sounds like a squeaky bicycle pump!
Where Does the Angola Batis Live?
The Angola batis lives in western central Africa. It is found in the southern part of the Republic of Congo. It also lives in western Democratic Republic of Congo and northern Angola. In Angola, it can be found as far south as the Quiçama National Park. This park is about 70 km (43 mi) from the city of Luanda. We are still waiting to confirm if it lives in southeastern Gabon.
How Does the Angola Batis Live?
Not much is known about the daily habits of the Angola batis. It mainly eats insects. It often catches insects while flying. It does this by quickly flying out from a branch to grab an insect in the air. This way of hunting is called "flycatching."
Social Life and Nests
Angola batises seem to prefer being alone or in pairs. Like other batises, they are usually seen by themselves or with one other bird.
Both the male and female birds work together to build their nest. They make a cup-shaped nest using strips of bark and spider webs. They usually place the nest in the fork of a small tree, about head height. So far, only two eggs have been found in their nests. Breeding behavior has been seen in the Democratic Republic of Congo in July.
Where They Like to Live
The Angola batis lives in different types of forests and woodlands. They like forests that are growing back after being cut down. They also live near rivers in what are called "gallery forests." These are forests that grow along rivers.
They can be found in thick woodlands, especially those with Croton plants. They also live in nearby bushes and thickets. Sometimes, they live in the area where forests meet savannah (grassy plains). Occasionally, they are seen in dry woodlands, especially in the southern parts of their home range. They can also be found in coffee plantations.
