Pseudocalyptomena graueri
The Grauer's Broadbill (Pseudocalyptomena graueri) is a spectacularly vibrant, small passerine, measuring approximately 12-14 cm (4.7-5.5 inches) in length and weighing 25-33 grams. Its striking appearance is dominated by brilliant emerald-green plumage, complemented by a distinct pale blue throat patch and a prominent black streak extending through its eye. A small, slightly upturned yellowish bill and a relatively short tail are key distinguishing field marks, setting it apart from other fo...
This elusive species inhabits dense, humid montane rainforests and cloud forests, typically found at elevations between 1,600 and 2,500 meters above sea level.
Its diet consists mainly of insects, such as caterpillars, beetles, and ants, supplemented by small forest fruits.
Grauer's Broadbill is a diurnal and generally inconspicuous bird, often observed singly or in pairs, though it may occasionally join mixed-species foraging flocks. It primarily forages arboreally, gleaning insects and small fruits from the foliage and branches of the forest mid-story and canopy. ...
The Grauer's Broadbill is endemic to the Albertine Rift Mountains, a chain stretching across East-Central Africa. Its fragmented distribution covers eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), western Uganda, western Rwanda, and northwestern Burundi. Key strongholds for the species include protec...
Vulnerable
- Grauer's Broadbill holds the distinction of being Africa's sole representative of the broadbill family, making it an evolutionary outlier on the continent. - Its scientific name, `Pseudocalyptomena`, literally means 'false `Calyptomena`,' referring to its striking resemblance to the Asian Green...