Senegal batis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Senegal batis
Male at Faraba, the Gambia
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Platysteiridae
Genus:	Batis
Species:	B. senegalensis
Binomial name
Batis senegalensis (Linnaeus, 1766)
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Synonyms
Muscicapa senegalensis Linnaeus, 1766

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The Senegal batis (Batis senegalensis) is a small, active bird found in western Africa. It belongs to the wattle-eyes family. These birds live in dry areas like savannas and shrublands. They are known for their striking black, white, and grey colors.

About the Senegal Batis

How Scientists Name Animals

Scientists give every living thing a special two-part name. This is called a binomial name. It helps everyone around the world know exactly which species they are talking about.

The famous Swedish scientist Carl Linnaeus first described the Senegal batis in 1766. He gave it the name Muscicapa senegalensis. Later, in 1833, another scientist named Friedrich Boie placed it in the group, or genus, called Batis. So, its full scientific name today is Batis senegalensis. This bird is the only one of its kind in its group, meaning it is monotypic.

What Does the Senegal Batis Look Like?

The Senegal batis is a small bird, about 10 cm (3.9 in) long. It weighs between 8–11.4 g (0.28–0.40 oz), which is very light! It looks a bit like a flycatcher.

It has clear black, white, and grey markings. These colors are common for birds in the batis family.

• Males have a dark grey head with a long, white stripe above their eye. They have a shiny blue-black mask on their face. Their back is grey, and their wings are brownish-black with a white stripe. They have a wide, shiny blue-black band across their chest.
• Females are a bit lighter in color. Their head is dusky grey-brown, and the stripe above their eye is buff-colored. They have a black face mask and brownish wings. Their chest band is a reddish-brown color.
• Young birds look similar to females but are duller in color.

What Does the Senegal Batis Sound Like?

The main call of the Senegal batis is a series of whistles. These whistles often come in groups of two or three notes. They usually stay at the same pitch. Sometimes, the calls start with a buzzy sound.

Where the Senegal Batis Lives

Distribution and Habitat

The Senegal batis lives in western Africa. You can find it from southern Mauritania, Senegal, and Gambia. It also lives east into Nigeria and parts of northern and central Cameroon.

This bird prefers dry, open areas. It likes places with low, thorny bushes and scattered trees. You might see it in grasslands or woodlands with acacia and baobab trees.

Behaviour and Life Cycle

Daily Life and Territory

The Senegal batis is a busy bird. It stays in the same area, called a territory, all year round. The male bird flies around his territory every day. He often sits on high branches and sings to show it's his space.

The male shares his territory with the female and any young birds from the year before. Sometimes, you can see them in small family groups. If another bird tries to enter their territory, the male will put on an aggressive show. He stands tall, puffs out his chest feathers, and jerks his tail. He might also fly in a bouncy way, puffing out his feathers.

Senegal batises will also try to scare away other birds like shrikes or even snakes. They make snapping sounds with their bills and flap their wings quickly.

What the Senegal Batis Eats

The Senegal batis mostly eats insects. It finds its food by looking on leaves and branches. Sometimes, it looks on tree trunks. It almost never looks for food on the ground.

It can also catch insects right out of the air. It flies a short distance from a perch to grab its prey. Sometimes, it even uses thorns to hold bigger insects! Other birds, like the fork-tailed drongo, have been known to steal food from the Senegal batis.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

The breeding season for the Senegal batis usually happens between January and July. The male's courtship display, which is how he tries to attract a female, is similar to his aggressive territory display. The male might also feed the female during this time.

Both the male and female work together to build the nest. It's a small, neat cup made of dried grass and strips of bark. They decorate it with leaves and lichen. They use spider webs to hold everything together and attach the nest to a tree or bush. The nest is often in an open spot, but its decorations help it blend in and hide.

The female lays about two eggs. Only the female sits on the eggs to keep them warm, which is called incubation. This takes about 15 days. While she is incubating, the male guards the nest and brings her food. He will attack other birds and even squirrels that come too close!

After the chicks hatch, the male provides all the food for the female and the young for the first week. He passes the food to the female, and she feeds the chicks. After the first week, both parents hunt for food and feed their babies. The young birds stay in their parents' territory until the next breeding season begins.