Alternative name: Mountain Thrush-Babbler
- Illadopsis pyrrhoptera
Identification
13 - 14.5cm. A Thrush-like Babbler:
- Olivaceous-grey crown with indistinct darker scaling
- Grey lores, cheek and neck side
- Indistinct narrow grey supercilium
- Rufous-tinged olive-brown upperparts
- Greyish-white chin and throat
- Grey breast, paler belly
- Rich brown flanks and undertail-coverts
Sexes similar.
Distribution
Found in east-central Africa from east Democratic Republic of Congo to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi and west Kenya to west Tanzania.
Very common in parts of its range (eg. Rwanda), uncommon in others.
Taxonomy
Has been placed in genus Malacocincla. May form a superspecies with Pale-breasted Illadopsis.
Subspecies
Two subspecies recognized:
- I. p. pyrrhoptera in east Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, west Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and west Tanzania
- I. p. nyasae in north Malawi
Habitat
Dense leafy and bamboo undergrowth of primary and secondary montane forest. Also gallery forest, impenetrable thickets and along streams. Found at 1550m - 2800m in Kenya and Uganda, 1600m - 2300m in Malawi.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on invertebrates, takes also berries and seeds.
Usually seen in pairs or small groups of 3 to 6 birds. Joins bird-waves and attens army-ants swarms.
Breeding
Breeding season January to February and July to August. Only one nest is described, it was a sturdy cup of green moss, dry leaves and stems. Lays 2 eggs.<
Movements
Resident species. Some wandering may occur.
References
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553422
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Mountain Illadopsis. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 11 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Mountain_Illadopsis
