Bioko batis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fernando Po batis |
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The Fernando Pó batis, also known as the Bioko batis, (Batis poensis) is a small bird from the family Platysteiridae. It lives only on the island of Bioko in Equatorial Guinea. This means it is found nowhere else in the world.
What it Looks Like
The Fernando Pó batis is a small, active bird that looks a bit like a flycatcher. It has mostly black and white feathers. Its head and upper back are shiny blue-black. It has a small white spot near its eye, which sometimes extends into a thin white line above its eye.
Its lower back is grayish-black with tiny white spots. The wings are black with a white stripe. Its tail is black with thin white lines on the outer feathers.
Male birds have white undersides with a black band across their chest. Females look similar to males but are not as brightly colored. They have a reddish-brown chest band instead of a black one. Young birds look like females but are a bit duller. These birds are about 10.5 centimeters (4 inches) long. They weigh around 8.8 to 9.4 grams (0.3 ounces).
Where it Lives
This bird lives only on Bioko Island. This island used to be called Fernando Pó. It lives in the lowland forests. You can find it up to about 1,350 meters (4,430 feet) high. This is where the lowland forest meets the mountain forest.
How it Behaves
The Fernando Pó batis is a shy and restless bird. It spends most of its time high up in the tops of tall trees. It hunts for insects by picking them off leaves. It also catches insects while flying or by briefly hovering near leaves. If it catches a large insect with a hard shell, it will rub and hit it against a branch.
These birds sometimes join groups of other bird species to hunt for food together. Not much is known about how they raise their young. However, young birds that have learned to fly have been seen in October. Both the male and female birds build their nest. They use strips of bark and other plant fibers. The nest is usually built in the outer fork of a tree branch.
About its Name
The Fernando Pó batis is sometimes thought to be the same as the West African batis (Batis occulta). But now, scientists agree that they are two different species.
See also
In Spanish: Batis de Fernando Poo para niños
