Forest batis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Forest batis |
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The forest batis is a small, colorful bird found in eastern Africa. It's also known as the short-tailed batis. This bird belongs to a family called wattle-eyes, known for their bright eyes and lively behavior.
About the Forest Batis
The forest batis is a tiny bird, only about 9.5 to 10 centimeters long. That's about the length of your hand! It weighs between 10.5 and 14.2 grams, which is super light.
What Does It Look Like?
Male forest batis birds have a cool look. Their top feathers are bluish-grey. They have a black mask across their face, like a superhero! There's a white spot near their eyes and white spots on their back that show when they fluff up.
Their belly is white with a black band across the chest. Their wings are black with a white stripe. They have a black beak and legs, and bright red eyes.
Female forest batis birds are a bit different. Their upper feathers are more olive-colored. Their wings are reddish-brown, and they have a mottled, reddish-brown band on their chest. Young birds look similar to females but their markings are not as clear. Both males and females have a short black tail with white edges.
Where Do They Live?
The forest batis lives in eastern Africa. You can find them along the coast of southeastern Kenya and northeastern Tanzania. They also live near famous places like Mount Kilimanjaro.
They prefer to live in different kinds of forests. This includes coastal forests, woodlands, and mountain forests. They can be found from sea level up to 2,300 meters (about 7,500 feet) high on Kilimanjaro! They usually hang out in the lower parts of the forest and in the bushes.
How Do They Behave?
We don't know a lot about the daily habits of the forest batis. We do know they are often seen in small family groups or as pairs. Like other batis birds, they like to have their own territory.
Males sing a special song to attract mates. It's a slow, repeating "hu-hu-hu-hu" whistle. While singing, they puff out their white throat feathers. This makes them look even more impressive!
Scientists have seen signs of them breeding in May and June in Kenya, and in September and October in Tanzania. One nest was found with two eggs inside.
