Brown-throated wattle-eye

Brown-throated wattle-eye

Common wattle-eye, Scarlet-spectacled wattle-eye

Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Genus
SPECIES
Platysteira cyanea

The brown-throated wattle-eye (Platysteira cyanea ), also known as the common wattle-eye or scarlet-spectacled wattle-eye, is a small, insectivorous passerine bird. The wattle-eyes were previously classed as a subfamily of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae, but are now usually separated from that group.

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This species breeds in west, central and northeast tropical Africa. This common species is found in secondary forest and other woodland areas, including gardens. The eggs are laid in a small neat lichen and cobweb cup low in a tree or bush.

The adult brown-throated wattle-eye is a stout bird about 14 cm (5.5 in) long. The breeding male has glossy black upperparts, and white underparts with a neat black breast band. There is a strong white wingbar, and fleshy red wattles above the eye.

The females are grey-black above, and also have the white wing bar and red wattles. There is a small patch of white below the bill, and the throat and breast are maroon, separated from the white belly by the black breast band. Young males are washed-out, greyer versions of the female.

These active insect-eating birds are found in pairs or small groups. The ringing call of the brown-throated wattle-eye is a very characteristic six note doo-dd-dum-di-do-do.

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Habits and Lifestyle

Lifestyle
Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

References

1. Brown-throated wattle-eye Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown-throated_wattle-eye
2. Brown-throated wattle-eye on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22707924/94142236
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/690414

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