White-backed Mousebird
Colius colius
Dry bush and suburbia. Grey above with upstanding crest; buff und.erparts; back white; bill white with black tip and legs red
LC
Endemic
Description
Common endemic resident. Identified by pale grey upper parts, buff underparts, white back, maroon rump (visible in flight only) and whitish bill with black tip to upper mandible. The call is ‘zwee, wewit’. Occurs in flocks in thornveld, riverine bush and suburbia in the drier regions.
Quick Facts
Size
30-34 cm - M
Names
A: Witkruismuisvoël
Ss: Mmasehlothwana Wa Nkotosweu
G: Weißrücken-Mausvogel
Bird Family
Fruit-eating birds with crested heads, soft, hair-like plumage and long, stiff tails. They usually occur in parties of about a dozen birds that maintain contact by call. When feeding they clamber about, mouse-like, in bushes. Immatures resemble adults, but are duller and shorter-tailed.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
Occurs in 'flocks' in thornveld, riverine bush and suburbia in the drier regions.
