Animalia Life

Bias musicus
SUBFAMILY
Platysteirinae
TAXONOMY
Bias musicus Vieillot, 1818.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Black-and-white shrike-flycatcher; French: Gobemouche chanteur; German: Vangaschnдpper; Spanish: Atrapamoscas Blanco y negro.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The body length is about 6 in (15 cm). The iris is bright yellow. Both sexes have a feathered crest on the top of the head. The male is colored glossy black on the head, back, wings, tail, and chest, and white on the rump and lower underparts. The female and immature are mostly brown, with a white throat and tan-colored chest and belly.
DISTRIBUTION
A widespread, nonmigratory species of central tropical Africa.
HABITAT
Occurs in large openings in lowland, humid, primary and secondary tropical and montane forest, including agricultural and village clearings with some tall trees. It occurs as high as about 5,600 ft (1,700 m)
BEHAVIOR
A nonmigratory species that occurs in pairs or as small family groups. Breeding birds defend a territory. Performs slow-flying, noisy, aerial displays. The song is a series of two to four varied notes.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Searches actively or from a perch for insects in the upper part of the tree canopy. Insects are gleaned from foliage, and are also caught in flight.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Builds a small cup-shaped nest in a narrow fork of a branch. Lays two or three, pale blue-green, blotched eggs that are incubated for 18–19 days. Pairs are monogamous but their immature progeny help them with their breeding effort.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened. An endemic species but locally abundant in parts of its range.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known, except for the economic benefits of birdwatching.

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