Tit hylia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tit hylia |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Superfamily: | Sylvioidea |
| Family: | Hyliidae |
| Genus: | Pholidornis Hartlaub, 1857 |
| Species: |
P. rushiae
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| Binomial name | |
| Pholidornis rushiae (Cassin, 1855)
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The tit hylia (Pholidornis rushiae) is a tiny bird found in the rainforests of West and Central Africa. It's the only species in its group, called Pholidornis. Scientists recently decided it belongs to a special bird family called Hyliidae.
Contents
About the Tit Hylia's Name
The tit hylia was first described by a scientist named John Cassin in 1855. He found a sample of the bird in Gabon. Two years later, Gustav Hartlaub placed it in the group Pholidornis. The name Pholidornis comes from old Greek words. Pholidos means "scale," and ornis means "bird."
Where the Tit Hylia Lives
This small bird lives in many countries across Africa. You can find it in places like Angola, Benin, Cameroon, and Ghana. It also lives in Nigeria, Uganda, and Togo, among others. Its favorite place to live is in warm, wet lowland forests.
What the Tit Hylia Looks Like
The tit hylia is one of the smallest birds in Africa. It is only about 8 centimeters (3 inches) long. Its chest and head are light brown with many darker brown stripes. From its lower chest down to its tail, the bird is bright yellow. Its legs are a bright orange color. Young tit hylias are not as colorful and have fewer stripes. Because they are so small, these birds sometimes get caught in spider webs!
Tit Hylia Behavior
How the Tit Hylia Finds Food
The tit hylia usually looks for food high up in the trees. It stays about 5 to 15 meters (16 to 49 feet) above the forest floor. It rarely comes down lower. These birds like to eat together in small groups of up to seven birds. They mostly eat insects. A type of insect called "scale insects" is a very important part of their diet.
Tit Hylia Reproduction and Life Cycle
Tit hylias are monogamous, meaning one male and one female stay together to raise their young. Some reports suggest they might also help each other raise chicks. The pair builds a large, round nest, about 15 centimeters (6 inches) wide. They make it from plant fibers. The nest has a spout-like entrance that hangs from the bottom. They build their nests high up in trees, usually 3 to 20 meters (10 to 66 feet) off the ground. These nests are very well made and strongly attached to the branches.
The female lays two eggs. We don't have much information about how long the eggs take to hatch. However, up to four adult birds have been seen feeding the chicks. After the breeding season, the nest is used as a safe place for the birds to sleep.
 | Precious Adams |
 | Lauren Anderson |
 | Janet Collins |
