From Opus

Photo by safariranger
Kapishya Hot Springs, Zambia

Platysteira peltata

[edit] Identification

Length 14 cm, mass 11-15 g. Red eye-wattle over the eye.

Male - Green-black head, dark grey back, white chin, throat and belly, with black breast band.
Female - Similar to the male, but the throat and upper breast are black.

[edit] Distribution

Southern subtropical Africa.

Photo by Alan Manson
Female
Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, July 2007

[edit] Taxonomy

• P. p. cryptoleuca: Somalia to eastern Zimbabwe and northern Mozambique; Mafia Island
• P. p. mentalis: Angola to southern Zaire, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya and western Tanzania
• P. p. peltata: Zambia to Malawi, Mozambique, eastern Zimbabwe and eastern South Africa

Has been considered conspecific with Banded Wattle-eye.

[edit] Habitat

Forest: montane to coastal; often near water.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Diet

The diet includes insects.

[edit] Breeding

It builds a small cup-shaped nest and 1-2 glossy grey-green eggs are laid. The female incubates for 16–18 days.

[edit] External Links