Apalis cinerea
The Grey Apalis (Apalis cinerea) is a small, slender warbler endemic to the montane forests of central and western Africa, measuring approximately 11-13 cm in length and weighing around 8-12 grams. Its plumage is subtly elegant, characterized by uniform grey upperparts, including the head and back, contrasting with clean white to off-white underparts, sometimes with a faint pale yellow wash on the flanks. Distinctive field marks include its dark eye, fine blackish bill, and relatively long ta...
Found primarily in humid montane evergreen forests, forest edges, and clearings, often utilizing secondary growth and occasionally plantations. It typically occurs at elevations ranging from 900 to 3,000 meters above sea level.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of small insects, including caterpillars, beetles, ants, and spiders, which it gleans actively from leaves and twigs.
Grey Apalises are highly active, diurnal birds, constantly on the move as they glean small insects and larvae from foliage and branches, often foraging in the mid- to upper canopy but also descending to lower strata. They are generally observed in pairs or small family groups, maintaining distinc...
The Grey Apalis exhibits a widespread yet disjunct distribution across the humid montane forests of central and western Africa, primarily residing year-round within its range. Its presence stretches from Sierra Leone and Liberia in the west, eastward through Nigeria, Cameroon, and Equatorial Guin...
Least Concern
- The Grey Apalis is an incredibly active forager, rarely staying still for more than a few seconds as it searches for insects. - It is renowned for its synchronized duets, where male and female sing intricate calls together, a key element of their social bonding. - The genus name 'Apalis' is der...