The Bar-throated Apalis – Apalis thoracica - inhabits forest and scrub from South Africa to Kenya. It is common across much of Zimbabwe, central Mozambique, south-eastern Botswana and South Africa, preferring evergreen forest, valley bushveld, woodland along drainage lines in the Karoo and scrub around sand dunes.

Description

The upperparts can be grey or green while the underparts are white or pale yellow. All forms have a narrow black band across the breast, white outer tail-feathers and a pale eye. The black bill is fairly long and slender and is slightly curved. Females are similar to males but have a narrower breastband. Young birds have buffer underparts and may have an incomplete breastband.

Call

It’s call is a sharp, rapid, often repeated “pillip-pillip-pillip”. Pairs sing a duetting song with the female's call being higher-pitched than that of the male.

Food

This species forages for insects often in mixed flocks. It mainly eats invertebrates gleaned from leaves and twigs, supplemented with fruit.

Breeding

The breeding season is from August to March. An oval, purse-shaped nest is built, mainly of plant material. It lays 2 to 4 eggs which are bluish white with reddish-brown spots. They are incubated by both sexes for between 14 to18 days. The young are fed by both parents and leave the nest after about 13 to 18 days.

Conservation Status – Least Concern

The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats. Not threatened.

Birdwatching

These birds can be seen on the following Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures: -

Aves Eastern Cape Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.

Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.

Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.

Aves North East Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.

Aves Western Cape Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.

Aves West Coast Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.

Birding Hotspots

Harold Porter Botanical Gardens

Bontebok National Park

Mount Sheba Nature Reserve

Kaapsehoop

The Soutpansberg Range