- Malaconotus gladiator
Identification
A large passerine 25-28 cm in length with a bill to match its name - gladiator.
Head and nape are a dark grey with the rest of the upperparts and tail a dark olive green and the underparts a uniform yellowish green. The eye is a pale greyish, bill black, legs bluish-black.
Distribution
West Africa: restricted to western Cameroon (Mount Cameroon, Rumpi Hills, Bakossi Mountains, Mount Kupe, Mount Nlonako, Mount Manenguba and the Bamenda Highlands) and south-eastern Nigeria (Obudu Plateau).
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Upper levels of montane forest generally between 1200 m and 2300 m in altitude.
Status
Classified as Vulnerable in the 2008 IUCN Red List.2
Behaviour
Diet
Singly or in pairs generally in the upper levels (canopy) of montane forest where birds diligently search for invertebrate, including large locusts, amongst moss covered vines.
Vocalisation
Song: A far-carrying drawn out mournful whistle repeated a number of times, a harsh, grating call usually repeated and an excited chattering alarm call.
Agitated birds bill-rattle.
References
- 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/
- BirdLife International (2008) Species factsheet: Malaconotus gladiator. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 12/8/2008.
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved December 2014)
