Stresemann's Bushcrow

Akazienhäher ( Zavattariornis stresemanni ) in Yabello Wildlife Sanctuary

The Akazienhäher ( Zavattariornis stresemanni ), sometimes referred to as Zavattarivogel, is indigenous to Ethiopia in Songbird. It belongs to the family of corvids ( Corvidae ).

System

The Akazienhäher was discovered in 1937. Edoardo Zavattari, the former Director of the Zoological Institute of the University of Rome, watching him in April 1937 during two expeditions into südäthiopische bushland. It was named after the German ornithologist Erwin Stresemann. In 1938 he was first described by the Italian ornithologist Edgardo Moltoni and classified in the monotypic genus Zavattariornis.

Features

The star -like birds reach a size of 30 cm. He is blue - gray in his whole appearance, but to the forehead colored almost white. The throat and chest are cream-colored and the flight feathers and tail glossy black. The spring peaks are brightened brownish. Males and females are similar, the young birds are colored a bit dirtier. The iris is brown and her eyes are surrounded by a light blue ribbon of bare facial skin. The beak, feet and legs are black.

Distribution and habitat

Its occurrence is limited to spine, short grass and acacia savannah in southern Ethiopia near the places Yabello ( Jabello ), Mega and Arero.

Life and reproduction

Outside the breeding season they are very sociable. Then chat to in the company of white vertices Stare ( Spreo albicapillus ) and form groups of four to ten birds. Their diet consists of insects. The breeding season is from February / March to May / June and the nests are built at a height of 6 m in acacia bushes. The nest is usually from five to six cream-colored eggs with lilac spots. The nest is spherical with a tubular inlet at the top. Because of the long incubation period, it is possible that several breeding pairs visit the nest and that young birds from past breeding seasons assist in the rearing of the young.