Taita apalis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Taita apalis |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Apalis
|
| Species: |
fuscigularis
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Apalis thoracica fuscigularis |
|
The Taita apalis (Apalis fuscigularis) is a small bird that lives only in the Taita Hills of Kenya. When a plant or animal lives in just one place, it is called endemic. This means the Taita apalis cannot be found anywhere else in the world! It belongs to a bird family called Cisticolidae.
Scientists once thought the Taita apalis was a type of bar-throated apalis. But now, they know it is its own unique species.
Contents
About the Taita Apalis
The Taita apalis is a medium-sized bird. It measures about 14 to 16 centimeters (5.5 to 6.3 inches) long. It weighs around 10 to 12 grams (0.35 to 0.42 ounces).
What Does It Look Like?
This bird has dark grey feathers on its upper body. Its wings and tail are a slightly darker shade of grey. The Taita apalis has a black throat and chest. Its belly and lower parts are white or off-white. A cool fact about this bird is its eye color: it has silvery-white eyes!
Sounds and Calls
The Taita apalis has a special way of communicating. Its call sounds like a repeated pillipp, pillippp. This call is similar to that of the bar-throated apalis. The male Taita apalis sings a loud song that sounds like chwee, chwee or chewk, chewk, chewk. Sometimes, the female bird will sing along with the male. Her song is a high-pitched cheek.
Where the Taita Apalis Lives
The Taita apalis makes its home in special types of forests. These are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. "Montane" means these forests are found in mountains. The air in these forests is often humid and misty.
Why This Bird Needs Our Help
The Taita apalis is one of the rarest birds on Earth. It is in great danger because of habitat loss. This means the places where it lives are disappearing.
A Tiny Home
The Taita apalis lives in a very small area. Its entire home is only about 1.5 square kilometers (0.58 square miles). This small area is also broken up into many tiny pieces. This makes it harder for the birds to find food and mates.
How Many Birds Are Left?
Experts believe there are only a few Taita apalis birds left. In 2009–2010, a study showed that the number of these birds had dropped a lot. It is thought that there might be as few as 60 to 130 adult birds remaining.
Threats to Their Home
Most of the original forests where these birds lived have been cut down. The land has been used for farming. Some areas have been replanted with trees that are not native to the region. Even though efforts have been made to stop illegal logging in the Taita Hills, the birds are still struggling. A serious drought in 2009 might have also harmed the population.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the Taita apalis as critically endangered. This is the highest level of risk for a species. It means they are very close to disappearing forever. Protecting their small forest home is very important to help these special birds survive.
