Cape batis

Batis capensis

SUBFAMILY

Platysteirinae

TAXONOMY

Batis capensis Linnaeus, 1766.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

English: Cape puffback; French: Batis du Cap; German: Kapschnäpper; Spanish: Batis de el Cabo.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The body length is about 6 in (15 cm). The head is relatively large, the tail short, and the wings rounded. The iris is orange. The male is colored dark blue-gray on the back and tail, with a black top of head, white throat, black breast-band, white belly, and rufus flanks. The female is a duller color, with no breast-band, and has a brown wash to the breast.

DISTRIBUTION

A local (or endemic) species of coastal southern Africa.

HABITAT

Occurs in primary and mature secondary woodland, montane forest, shrubby scrub, plantations, and gardens with trees. It occurs between sea level and about 7,050 ft (2,150 m).

BEHAVIOR

A nonmigratory species that occurs in pairs or as small family groups. Some populations undertake seasonal altitudinal movements. Breeding birds defend a territory. Sometimes aggregates into a larger, excitable flock of 10–30 birds known as a "batis parliament," and may also join mixed-species foraging flocks. The song is a simple whistle or series of notes.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Searches actively or from a perch for insects at all levels of the canopy. Insects are mostly caught in flight, often after they are scared from a hiding place.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Builds a small cup-shaped nest in a narrow fork of a branch. Lays one to three eggs that are incubated by the female for 17–21 days. Pairs are monogamous but their immature progeny help them with their breeding effort.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened. An endemic species that is locally abundant in parts of its range.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

None known, except for the economic benefits of birdwatching.