Chinspot Batis
Batis molitor
Woodland. Small pied bird with grey cap and yellow eyes.
Batises, Small Flycatchers
LC
Not Endemic
Description
Very common resident. Male lacks any rufous coloration. Very similar to [Pririt Batis] and [Woodward’s’ Batis] but their ranges are almost mutually exclusive. Female has a clearly defined, rich rufous chin-spot and breast-band, but white flanks. Has several calls, the most characteristic a descending series of three notes ‘choi-choi-choi’, sounding like ‘three blind mice’. Also calls ‘chi-chirr’ or ‘chee-chir-chir’; one of the first species to be heard at dawn. Occurs in pairs in mixed bushveld and woodland, always in drier country than [Cape Batis]. Often joins bird parties, feeding in the mid- and lower strata.
Quick Facts
Size
12-13 cm - S
Names
A: Witliesbosbontrokkie
Z: incwaba
Ss: Swamahlaku-Sa-Bokone
G: Weißflankenschnäpper
Bird Family
Small leaf-gleaning flycatchers of similar appearance, characterised by grey caps and upperparts, black masks, black or rufous breast-bands and varying amounts of rufous coloration elsewhere. Immatures are dull versions of the adults. They are often found in bird parties. When alarmed they fly about with whirring wings.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
Occurs in pairs in mixed bushveld and woodland, always in drier country than [Cape Batis].
