Anthoscopus
Encyclopedia
Anthoscopus is a genus of bird
s in the penduline tit family Remizidae. The genus is restricted to sub-Sahara
n Africa
, where it ranges from the Sahel
to South Africa
. Unlike many of the Eurasian penduline, these species are not generally migratory
, instead remaining close to their breeding sites year round. A wide range of habitats is occupied by the six species, from deserts to woodlands to rainforest.
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s in the penduline tit family Remizidae. The genus is restricted to sub-Sahara
Sahara
The Sahara is the world's second largest desert, after Antarctica. At over , it covers most of Northern Africa, making it almost as large as Europe or the United States. The Sahara stretches from the Red Sea, including parts of the Mediterranean coasts, to the outskirts of the Atlantic Ocean...
n Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, where it ranges from the Sahel
Sahel
The Sahel is the ecoclimatic and biogeographic zone of transition between the Sahara desert in the North and the Sudanian Savannas in the south.It stretches across the North African continent between the Atlantic Ocean and the Red Sea....
to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. Unlike many of the Eurasian penduline, these species are not generally migratory
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
, instead remaining close to their breeding sites year round. A wide range of habitats is occupied by the six species, from deserts to woodlands to rainforest.
Nests
Their pendulous and elaborately woven nests have false entrances above the true entrance, these in turn lead to a false chamber. The true nesting chamber is accessed by the parent opening a hidden flap, entering and then closing the flap shut again, the two sides sealing with sticky spider webs. These false entrances are used to confuse potential predators and protect the eggs and nestlings.Species
It contains the following six species:- Sennar Penduline-titSennar Penduline-titThe Sennar Penduline-tit is a species of bird in the Remizidae family.It is found in Cameroon, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sudan....
(Anthoscopus punctifrons) - Yellow Penduline-titYellow Penduline-titThe Yellow Penduline-tit is a species of bird in the Remizidae family.It is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, and Togo.Its natural habitat is dry...
(Anthoscopus parvulus) - Mouse-coloured Penduline-titMouse-coloured Penduline-titThe Mouse-coloured Penduline-tit is a species of bird in the Remizidae family.- Range and population :This species has an extensive range in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, with an estimated global Extent of Occurrence of 550,000 km2.- Habitat :Its natural habitats are...
(Anthoscopus musculus) - Forest Penduline-titForest Penduline-titThe Forest Penduline-tit is a species of bird in the Remizidae family.It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, and Nigeria.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland...
(Anthoscopus flavifrons) - African Penduline-titAfrican Penduline-titThe Grey Penduline Tit , also known as the African Penduline-tit, is a species of bird in the Remizidae family. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda,...
(Anthoscopus caroli) - Southern Penduline-titSouthern Penduline-titTh Cape Penduline Tit or Southern Penduline-tit is a species of bird in the Remizidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe....
(Anthoscopus minutus)