Brown-headed Apalis

Overview

The brown-headed apalis (Apalis alticola) is a small passerine bird in the family Cisticolidae that was formerly considered a subspecies of the grey apalis but is now treated as a distinct species. It comprises two subspecies: A. a. alticola and A. a. dowsetti.

Identification

• Small passerine, 12–13 cm long, with a fairly long, slender bill and a long tail.
• Upperparts are grey-brown, darkening to chocolate-brown on the crown and cheeks; underparts are whitish.
• Pale orange eyes and pinkish legs and feet; adult males and females are similar in appearance.
• Song consists of a series of loud, high-pitched "chip" notes.

Habitat

Inhabits forests and secondary growth at mid to high altitudes across central and east Africa, often found in pairs or small groups. The range includes parts of Angola, Zambia, Malawi, the south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and the Nguruman Escarpment in southern Kenya, with the A. a. dowsetti subspecies restricted to the Marungu plateau.

Did you know?

In areas where its range overlaps with that of the grey apalis, the brown-headed apalis is restricted to forest edges to avoid direct competition.