The Red-faced Mousebird - Urocolius indicts - Occurs from southern Angola, Zambia and Malawi to southern Africa, where it is common in non-arid areas. It generally prefers Acacia savanna and thickets, gardens, woodland with nearby rivers, strandveld, gardens and orchards. This is a social bird outside the breeding season, feeding together in small groups, normally of about half a dozen birds, but sometimes up to 15 or more. It engages in mutual preening and roosts in groups at night. It is more wary than other mousebirds

Description

This bird has a long tail comprising approximately half the birds total length. The crested head and breast are pale cinnamon with a red bill and eye mask. The rest of the upperparts and tail are blue-grey apart from a paler grey rump. The belly is whitish. The sexes are similar, but juveniles lack the crest and have a green mask.

Call

The Red-faced Mousebird has a whistled tsee-tee-tee call.

Food

It is a frugivore. Its diet is dominated by fruit, supplemented with nectar, flowers and leaves. It typically forages in groups of 3-10, landing in trees and bushes to forage.

 Breeding

These sedentary birds breed between June to February. The nest is a large untidy cup of plant material lined with material such as sheep wool, is built by both sexes. The breeding pair are assisted by helpers. Courtship involves preening and a "bouncing display", in which one bird bounces up and down on its perch, the tempo increasing as its mate gets closer. It is typically placed 2-8 metres above ground, in a tree or shrub. It lays 1 to 7 eggs, which are incubated by both sexes and sometimes helpers, for 10 to 15 days. The chicks are brooded for the first few days of their life, sometimes by both adults at once. They stay in the nest for 14 to 20 days, after which they become fully independent.

Conservation Status – Least concern

The population is not believed to be decreasing.

Birdwatching

The red-faced Mousebird is widespread and common. This striking mousebird can be seen on the following Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures: -

Aves Arid Birding Tour/Safari/Adventure.

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 North West Birding Tour/Safari/Adventure.

Aves Western Cape Birding Tour/Safari/Adventure.

Aves West Coast Birding Tour/Safari/Adventure.