Taita Apalis

The Taita fine singer ( Apalis fuscigularis ) is a rare songbird of the genus fine singer ( Apalis ). It is endemic to the Taita Hills in Kenya.

Description

The Taita fine singer was until 1994 as a subspecies of Collared fine singer ( Apalis thoracic ). It reaches a length of 14-16 centimeters. The top is slate gray. The wings and tail are dark gray. Throat and breast are black. The belly is white to off-white. The eyes are silvery white. His reputation consists of an pillipp repetitive pillipp.

Occurrence

The occurrence of the Taita fine singer is limited to four forest fragments in Ngangao, Chawia, Fururu and Vuria in Dabida massif in the Taita Hills.

Way of life

The Taita fine singer adheres preferably in the undergrowth on the edges of mountain forests. He is very sociable and lives in pairs or in small family groups of four to six individuals. He is territorial. Its food consists of flies, small invertebrates, berries and seeds.

Endangering

Deforestation have shrivel the habitat on a total area of 1.5 km ². Another threat comes from the planting of non-native timbers. The IUCN therefore classified the species as " critically endangered " ( " critically endangered " ) and estimates the total number to 50 to 250 copies.