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Trachyphonus erythrocephalus

Photo by obasanmi
Photo taken near Lake Manyara in N Tanzania. Bird pictured is of the nominate race erythrocephalus.

[edit] Identification

9 inches long. Their upperparts are spotted and streaked with red, yellow, white, and black, and their underparts are yellow. The tail is black. They have a bright red or orange beak. Males have a black cap and black throat patch, and a small crest.

[edit] Distribution

Africa

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Habitat

Dry bush, woodland and scrub

[edit] Behaviour

It digs its nests in termite mounds. The female lays 2-6 eggs at the back of the tunnel. The male does most of the incubating. Once the chicks hatch, all group members help to feed them. They catch insects for the chicks, removing the legs and wings from the larger ones and then presenting them to the chicks. After the chicks fledge, they will become helpers for their parents’ next clutch.

Their diet includes fruit, seeds, insects, lizards, small birds and eggs.

[edit] External Links