Animalia Life
Empidornis semipartitus
SUBFAMILY
Muscicapinae
TAXONOMY
Empidornis semipartita Rьppell, 1840.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Gobemouche argentй; German: Silberschnдpper;
Spanish: Papamoscas Plateado.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The body length is about 7.5 in (18 cm). The sexes are colored
similarly, with a light silvery grayish blue back, bright rufus
underparts, wings gray above and orange beneath, and silvery
markings on the head and tail.
DISTRIBUTION
An endemic (or local) species of the highlands of east-central
Africa, including parts of Ethiopia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda,
and Kenya.
HABITAT
Occurs in dry and semi-arid forest and woods with scattered
large trees, especially acacias, in areas as high as 9,050 ft
(2,300 m).
BEHAVIOR
A nonmigratory species. Pairs of breeding birds defend a territory.
The song is a soft, rich, and warbling.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Hunts from a perch in the canopy for flying insects. Also
swoops down to take insects from the ground. Usually returns
to its original perch.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Builds a dome-shaped nest of grass and thorny twigs lined with
finer fibers, or may used an old nest of a weaver-finch. Lays
two or three olive-green eggs.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened. An endemic species that is locally abundant in
its range.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known, except for the economic benefits of birdwatching.
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