Gola malimbe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gola malimbe |
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The Gola malimbe, also called Ballmann's malimbe, is a special type of bird that lives in the forests of West Africa. It belongs to the Ploceidae family, which are often called "weavers" because of how they build their nests. This bird is quite unique and can be hard to spot in the wild.
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What Does the Gola Malimbe Look Like?
The Gola malimbe is a black forest weaver bird. It grows to about 17 centimeters (about 6.7 inches) long.
Male Gola Malimbe
Male Gola malimbes are mostly black. They have a bright orange-yellow patch on the back of their neck, called the nape. They also have a shiny golden-yellow crescent shape on their chest. Another golden-yellow patch can be seen near their tail, on the vent area.
Female Gola Malimbe
Female Gola malimbes are almost completely black. They have a yellowish crescent on their chest, but it is not as bright or clear as the male's.
Young Gola Malimbe
Young Gola malimbes look a lot like the adults. However, their colors are not as bright. The yellow on their chest often spreads up to their throat.
What Does the Gola Malimbe Sound Like?
The Gola malimbe has a distinct song. It helps them communicate in the dense forest.
Male Song
The male's song is a series of chattering sounds. It is not very musical. It often ends with a wheezing sound. The whole song lasts about three seconds. It sounds like "cheg chig cheg cheg chega zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz". This song is similar to the one made by the village weaver.
Female Song
The female's song is similar to the male's. However, it does not have the wheezing part at the end. It sounds like "cheg cheg chig chag chaaag cheg chiiig".
Where Does the Gola Malimbe Live?
The Gola malimbe lives in West Africa. Scientists know of three main groups of these birds.
Gola Malimbe Locations
One group lives in the Gola Forest in Sierra Leone and western Liberia. Another group is found from eastern Liberia to western Ivory Coast. The third group lives in the Diecke Forest Reserve in Guinea.
Gola Malimbe Habitat
These birds prefer to live in certain types of forests. Their natural habitat is lowland primary rainforest. This means old forests that have not been cut down much. They also live in forests that have been lightly logged. Sometimes, they can be found in old secondary growth forests. These are forests that have grown back after being cut down a long time ago.
Gola Malimbe Habits and Life Cycle
The Gola malimbe is usually seen alone or in small groups. They spend their time in the upper parts of the forest. This is between 8 and 22 meters (about 26 to 72 feet) above the ground.
Foraging for Food
They look for insects to eat in the tree canopy. The canopy is the top layer of leaves and branches in a forest. They will sometimes join flocks of other bird species to find food.
Reproduction
The Gola malimbe seems to have two main breeding seasons. A smaller breeding season happens in July and August. This is during a short dry period. The main breeding season is in October and November.
Why is the Gola Malimbe Endangered?
The Gola malimbe is considered an endangered species. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever.
Habitat Loss
The biggest threat to these birds is habitat loss. This happens when their forest homes are destroyed. Deforestation, which is the clearing of forests, is a major problem.
Illegal Logging
Even in protected areas, the forests where they live face dangers. There has been illegal logging, which is cutting down trees without permission. This has been made worse by times of unrest and conflict in the region. These issues make it harder to protect the birds and their homes.
What's in a Name?
The common name, Gola malimbe, and its scientific name, Malimbus ballmanni, honor a German scientist. His name was Peter Ballmann. He studied the Earth and also collected birds. He was one of the first people to find a specimen of this special bird.
