Wattle-eye
Encyclopedia
Platysteiridae is a family of small stout passerine
bird
s of the Africa
n tropics. The family contains the wattle-eyes, batises
and shrike-flycatchers. They were previously classed as a subfamily of the Old World flycatcher
family Muscicapidae.
These insect-eating birds are found in usually open forests or bush. They hunt by flycatching, or by taking prey from the ground like a shrike
. The nest is a small neat cup low in a tree or bush.
n Africa. A single genus, Pseudobias, is endemic to Madagascar
, the rest of the family is restricted to mainland Africa and the surrounding islands. The shrike-flycatchers and the genus Dyaphorophyia are birds of dense forest, the rest of the wattle-eyes are found in woodland, and the batises range across all habitats except the densest forests of the Congo Basin
and the driest deserts. The Pririt Batis
and Pygmy Batis
are able to live in highly arid environments with some cover, and the White-fronted Wattle-eye
favours mangrove forests in Angola. Many species in the family have adapted to human altered habitats. The family has its highest diversity around the equatorial regions, with half the known species being located in Tanzania
and almost half also ranging in he Democratic Republic of the Congo
and Kenya
.
The family is overwhelmingly sedentary. However there are a few exceptions; the African Shrike-flycatcher
is probably an intra-African migrant
, as it is absent from some parts of its range during parts of the year. In addition some batis species undertake season migrations as well as some local movements due to changing local conditions.
The Platysteiridae are small to medium sized passerines. They have short legs and an upright stance while perched. The tail length is variable, with the Dyaphorophyia wattle-eyes and batises having short tails and the Platysteria wattle-eyes and shrike-flycatchers possessing longish tails. The bill
is flat and hooked at the end, and generally wide with well-developed rictal bristles. With the exception of a few batises the plumage
of the family is sexually dimorphic. Overall the family has white undersides and dark, speckled upperparts, with many species sporting a band across the chest. A few wattle-eyes depart from this pattern and possess brightly coloured plumage. The plumage on the back of some genera are erectile, giving the family the alternative name of puffback flycatchers. The iris of the batises and the Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher
is brightly coloured and used in communication, becoming more brightly coloured when the adults are excited. In the wattle-eyes the supra-orbital wattles above the eyes, which give them their name, are used for communication. In addition the family is highly vocal
, giving a range of whistles, harsh calls and duets.
s, although spiders, millipedes and scorpions are also taken, and there are even records of small lizards being consumed. Amongst the insect prey a number of different types are eaten; beetles, grasshoppers and other Orthoptera, flies, mosquitoes, wasps, termites, mantises and others all being recorded. Prey is taken by members of the family either as individuals or in family groups. Some species will also forage as part of mixed species feeding flocks, a technique that has been shown to confer some advantages. The different species and genera use a variety of methods to obtain prey, ranging from foliage-gleaning to flycatching.
, is considered threatened by human activities. The species has a restricted range in Cameroon
that is vulnerable to forest clearance and is listed as endangered
by the IUCN. Two further species are considered near-threatened, the Verreaux's Batis and the White-fronted Wattle-eye
; both species are threatened by habitat loss. Some species are also very poorly known, and one species, the Dark Batis
, was only identified as a species in 2006.
The White-tailed Shrike
Lanioturdus torquatus, once considered to be part of the family, probably belongs belong with bushshrike
s (Malaconotidae).
Passerine
A passerine is a bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds or, less accurately, as songbirds, the passerines form one of the most diverse terrestrial vertebrate orders: with over 5,000 identified species, it has roughly...
bird
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 of the 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...
n tropics. The family contains the wattle-eyes, batises
Batis (bird)
For other uses, see Batis .Batis is a genus of passerine birds in the wattle-eye family. Its species are resident in Africa south of the Sahara. They were previously classed as a subfamily of the Old World flycatcher family, Muscicapidae.They are small stout insect-eating birds, usually found in...
and shrike-flycatchers. They were previously classed as a subfamily of the Old World flycatcher
Old World flycatcher
The Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae is a large family of small passerine birds mostly restricted to the Old World. These are mainly small arboreal insectivores, many of which, as the name implies, take their prey on the wing.-Characteristics:...
family Muscicapidae.
These insect-eating birds are found in usually open forests or bush. They hunt by flycatching, or by taking prey from the ground like a shrike
Shrike
Shrikes are passerine birds of the family Laniidae. The family is composed of thirty-one species in three genera. The family name, and that of the largest genus, Lanius, is derived from the Latin word for "butcher", and some shrikes were also known as "butcher birds" because of their feeding habits...
. The nest is a small neat cup low in a tree or bush.
Distribution and habitat
The Platysteiridae are arboreal birds, primarily of the woodlands and forests of sub-SaharaSahara
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. A single genus, Pseudobias, is endemic to Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
, the rest of the family is restricted to mainland Africa and the surrounding islands. The shrike-flycatchers and the genus Dyaphorophyia are birds of dense forest, the rest of the wattle-eyes are found in woodland, and the batises range across all habitats except the densest forests of the Congo Basin
Congo Basin
The Congo Basin is the sedimentary basin that is the drainage of the Congo River of west equatorial Africa. The basin begins in the highlands of the East African Rift system with input from the Chambeshi River, the Uele and Ubangi Rivers in the upper reaches and the Lualaba River draining wetlands...
and the driest deserts. The Pririt Batis
Pririt Batis
The Pririt Batis also known as the Pririt Puff-back Flycatcher or Pririt Puffback, is a small passerine bird in the wattle-eye family. It is resident in western and central southern Africa....
and Pygmy Batis
Pygmy Batis
The pygmy batis is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family.It is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.Its natural habitat is dry savanna....
are able to live in highly arid environments with some cover, and the White-fronted Wattle-eye
White-fronted Wattle-eye
The White-fronted Wattle-eye is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family.It is endemic to Angola.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical mangrove forests, and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:*...
favours mangrove forests in Angola. Many species in the family have adapted to human altered habitats. The family has its highest diversity around the equatorial regions, with half the known species being located in Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
and almost half also ranging in he Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
and Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
.
The family is overwhelmingly sedentary. However there are a few exceptions; the African Shrike-flycatcher
African Shrike-flycatcher
The African Shrike-flycatcher is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family. It is monotypic within the genus Megabyas....
is probably an intra-African migrant
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...
, as it is absent from some parts of its range during parts of the year. In addition some batis species undertake season migrations as well as some local movements due to changing local conditions.
Morphology
Beak
The beak, bill or rostrum is an external anatomical structure of birds which is used for eating and for grooming, manipulating objects, killing prey, fighting, probing for food, courtship and feeding young...
is flat and hooked at the end, and generally wide with well-developed rictal bristles. With the exception of a few batises the plumage
Plumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
of the family is sexually dimorphic. Overall the family has white undersides and dark, speckled upperparts, with many species sporting a band across the chest. A few wattle-eyes depart from this pattern and possess brightly coloured plumage. The plumage on the back of some genera are erectile, giving the family the alternative name of puffback flycatchers. The iris of the batises and the Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher
Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher
The Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher , also known as the Black-and-white Flycatcher or Vanga Flycatcher, is a species of passerine bird found in Africa...
is brightly coloured and used in communication, becoming more brightly coloured when the adults are excited. In the wattle-eyes the supra-orbital wattles above the eyes, which give them their name, are used for communication. In addition the family is highly vocal
Bird song
Bird vocalization includes both bird calls and bird songs. In non-technical use, bird songs are the bird sounds that are melodious to the human ear. In ornithology and birding, songs are distinguished by function from calls.-Definition:The distinction between songs and calls is based upon...
, giving a range of whistles, harsh calls and duets.
Diet
The most important component of the diet of all species is insectInsect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s, although spiders, millipedes and scorpions are also taken, and there are even records of small lizards being consumed. Amongst the insect prey a number of different types are eaten; beetles, grasshoppers and other Orthoptera, flies, mosquitoes, wasps, termites, mantises and others all being recorded. Prey is taken by members of the family either as individuals or in family groups. Some species will also forage as part of mixed species feeding flocks, a technique that has been shown to confer some advantages. The different species and genera use a variety of methods to obtain prey, ranging from foliage-gleaning to flycatching.
Conservation and threats
One species, the Banded Wattle-eyeBanded Wattle-eye
The Banded Wattle-eye is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family. It is endemic to the Bamenda Highlands in western Cameroon. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:* BirdLife International 2006. . Downloaded...
, is considered threatened by human activities. The species has a restricted range in Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
that is vulnerable to forest clearance and is listed as endangered
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
by the IUCN. Two further species are considered near-threatened, the Verreaux's Batis and the White-fronted Wattle-eye
White-fronted Wattle-eye
The White-fronted Wattle-eye is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family.It is endemic to Angola.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical mangrove forests, and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:*...
; both species are threatened by habitat loss. Some species are also very poorly known, and one species, the Dark Batis
Dark Batis
The Dark Batis is a small passerine bird belonging to the genus Batis in the wattle-eye family, Platysteiridae. It is found in highland forest in south-west Tanzania and northern Malawi. These birds were formerly thought to be Short-tailed Batises The Dark Batis (Batis crypta) is a small passerine...
, was only identified as a species in 2006.
Platysteiridae in taxonomic order
Based on del Hoyo et al. (2006)- Genus Megabyas
- African Shrike-flycatcherAfrican Shrike-flycatcherThe African Shrike-flycatcher is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family. It is monotypic within the genus Megabyas....
, Megabyas flammulatus
- African Shrike-flycatcher
- Genus BiasBlack-and-white Shrike-flycatcherThe Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher , also known as the Black-and-white Flycatcher or Vanga Flycatcher, is a species of passerine bird found in Africa...
- Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcherBlack-and-white Shrike-flycatcherThe Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher , also known as the Black-and-white Flycatcher or Vanga Flycatcher, is a species of passerine bird found in Africa...
, Bias musicus
- Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher
- Genus Pseudobias
- Ward's Shrike-flycatcher, Pseudobias wardi
- Genus BatisBatis (bird)For other uses, see Batis .Batis is a genus of passerine birds in the wattle-eye family. Its species are resident in Africa south of the Sahara. They were previously classed as a subfamily of the Old World flycatcher family, Muscicapidae.They are small stout insect-eating birds, usually found in...
- Cape BatisCape BatisThe Cape Batis, Batis capensis, is a small passerine bird in the wattle-eye family. It is resident in the highlands of southern and eastern South Africa and Zimbabwe....
, Batis capensis - Reichenow's Batis, Batis reichenowi
- Short-tailed BatisShort-tailed BatisThe Forest Batis or Short-tailed Batis is a species of bird in the wattle-eye family, Platysteiridae. It is found in tropical moist forests in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. It mainly occurs in montane forest but in south-east Kenya it is found in lowland forest near the coast.The Dark...
, Batis mixta - Dark BatisDark BatisThe Dark Batis is a small passerine bird belonging to the genus Batis in the wattle-eye family, Platysteiridae. It is found in highland forest in south-west Tanzania and northern Malawi. These birds were formerly thought to be Short-tailed Batises The Dark Batis (Batis crypta) is a small passerine...
, Batis crypta - Woodward's Batis, Batis fratrum
- Boulton's BatisBoulton's BatisMargaret's Batis or Boulton's Batis is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family. It is found in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests.-References:...
, Batis margaritae - Ruwenzori BatisRuwenzori BatisThe Ruwenzori Batis is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family. It is found in the Albertine Rift in Burundi, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. Its natural habitat is montane forests above 1,400 m.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded...
, Batis diops - Fernando Po BatisFernando Po BatisThe Fernando Po Batis is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family.It is endemic to Equatorial Guinea.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 25 July 2007....
, Batis poensis - West African BatisWest African BatisThe West African Batis is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family.It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone....
, Batis occulta - Angola BatisAngola BatisThe Angola Batis is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family.It is found in Angola, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Gabon.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests.-References:...
, Batis minulla - Verreaux's Batis, Batis minima
- Ituri BatisIturi BatisThe Ituri Batis is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family.It is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:...
, Batis ituriensis - Senegal BatisSenegal BatisThe Senegal Batis is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family.It is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.Its natural habitats are dry savanna and subtropical or...
, Batis senegalensis - Gray-headed Batis, Batis orientalis
- Chinspot BatisChinspot BatisThe chinspot batis is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and...
, Batis molitor - Pale BatisPale BatisThe Pale Batis is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family.It is found in Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and dry savanna.-References:...
, Batis soror - Pririt BatisPririt BatisThe Pririt Batis also known as the Pririt Puff-back Flycatcher or Pririt Puffback, is a small passerine bird in the wattle-eye family. It is resident in western and central southern Africa....
, Batis pririt - Eastern Black-headed Batis, Batis minor
- Western Black-headed BatisWestern Black-headed BatisThe Western Black-headed Batis is a subspecies of bird in the Platysteiridae family. It is found in Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, western Kenya, Rwanda, northern Somalia, Sudan, western...
, Batis erlangeri - Pygmy BatisPygmy BatisThe pygmy batis is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family.It is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.Its natural habitat is dry savanna....
, Batis perkeo
- Cape Batis
- Genus Dyaphorophyia
- Yellow-bellied Wattle-eyeYellow-bellied Wattle-eyeThe Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family.It is found in Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra...
, Dyaphorophyia concreta - Red-cheeked Wattle-eyeRed-cheeked Wattle-eyeThe Red-cheeked Wattle-eye is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family.It is found in Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Togo....
, Dyaphorophyia blissetti - Black-necked Wattle-eyeBlack-necked Wattle-eyeThe Black-necked Wattle-eye is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family. It is found in Angola, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical swamps, and subtropical or tropical moist montane...
, Dyaphorophyia chalybea - Jameson's Wattle-eyeJameson's Wattle-eyeThe Jameson's Wattle-eye is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family.It is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda....
, Dyaphorophyia jamesoni - Chestnut Wattle-eyeChestnut Wattle-eyeThe Chestnut Wattle-eye is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan,...
, Dyaphorophyia castanea - White-spotted Wattle-eyeWhite-spotted Wattle-eyeThe White-spotted Wattle-eye is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family. It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Nigeria...
, Dyaphorophyia tonsa
- Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye
- Genus PlatysteiraPlatysteiraPlatysteira is a genus of bird in the Platysteiridae family.It contains the following species:** Black-throated Wattle-eye, Platysteira peltata** Black-necked Wattle-eye, Platysteira chalybea** Banded Wattle-eye, Platysteira laticincta...
- Black-throated Wattle-eyeBlack-throated Wattle-eyeThe Black-throated Wattle-eye is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family.It is found in Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . ...
, Platysteira peltata - Black-necked Wattle-eyeBlack-necked Wattle-eyeThe Black-necked Wattle-eye is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family. It is found in Angola, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical swamps, and subtropical or tropical moist montane...
, Platysteira chalybea - Banded Wattle-eyeBanded Wattle-eyeThe Banded Wattle-eye is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family. It is endemic to the Bamenda Highlands in western Cameroon. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:* BirdLife International 2006. . Downloaded...
, Platysteira laticincta - Chestnut Wattle-eyeChestnut Wattle-eyeThe Chestnut Wattle-eye is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan,...
, Platysteira castanea - Common Wattle-eyeCommon Wattle-eyeThe Brown-throated Wattle-eye , also known as the Common Wattle-eye or Scarlet-spectacled Wattle-eye, is a small, insectivorous passerine bird...
, Platysteira cyanea - Jameson's Wattle-eyeJameson's Wattle-eyeThe Jameson's Wattle-eye is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family.It is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda....
, Platysteira jamesoni - Red-cheeked Wattle-eyeRed-cheeked Wattle-eyeThe Red-cheeked Wattle-eye is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family.It is found in Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Togo....
, latysteira blissetti - White-fronted Wattle-eyeWhite-fronted Wattle-eyeThe White-fronted Wattle-eye is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family.It is endemic to Angola.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical mangrove forests, and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:*...
, Platysteira albifrons - White-spotted Wattle-eyeWhite-spotted Wattle-eyeThe White-spotted Wattle-eye is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family. It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Nigeria...
, Platysteira tonsa - Yellow-bellied Wattle-eyeYellow-bellied Wattle-eyeThe Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye is a species of bird in the Platysteiridae family.It is found in Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra...
, Platysteira concreta
- Black-throated Wattle-eye
- Genus Lanioturdus
The White-tailed Shrike
White-tailed Shrike
The White-tailed Shrike is a small passerine bird from the family Platysteiridae. It is also commonly known as a Chatshrike. It occurs only in western Angola and Namibia in thorn scrub. It forages from ground level, where it hops about in large bounds and upright posture, to 25m above ground,...
Lanioturdus torquatus, once considered to be part of the family, probably belongs belong with bushshrike
Bushshrike
The bushshrikes are smallish passerine bird species. They were formerly classed with the true shrikes in the family Laniidae, but are now considered sufficiently distinctive to be separated from that group as the family Malaconotidae....
s (Malaconotidae).
External links
- Wattle-eye videos on the Internet Bird Collection