Chinspot Batis

Overview

The chinspot batis (Batis molitor) is a small, stout songbird in the family Platysteiridae, characterised by its distinctive facial markings and territorial behaviour. It is a common and widespread species found across the woodlands of southern and central Africa.

Identification

• 12–13 cm in length with a rather stout build, featuring a black mask on the face and a grey cap.
• White throat, which is particularly conspicuous in males who also have a black breast band, while females have a chestnut breast band and throat spot.
• Yellow eyes with black legs and bill, and a prominent white wing stripe on grey upperparts.
• Males advertise territory with a descending three-note whistle, often engaging in jerking, jinky flight displays.

Habitat

Inhabits savanna woodlands, including miombo, riverine thickets, and bushveld, and can also be found in cultivated habitats such as orchards and gardens. Its range extends from the Eastern Cape in South Africa north to southern Kenya and Gabon, reaching altitudes of up to 3,000 m in central African mountains.

Diet

Primarily feeds on insects, insect larvae, and spiders, usually foraging in trees by hawking or gleaning from the foliage. Prey is captured with an audible snap and then held down with one foot to be stripped, with larger items sometimes beaten against a branch.

Did you know?

During the austral winter and early spring, these birds form 'parliaments' of up to ten individuals, often consisting of a single sex, where they engage in wing-fripping displays and frequent fights.