Xanthomixis cinereiceps
The Grey-crowned Tetraka (Xanthomixis cinereiceps) is a captivating small passerine bird, measuring approximately 13-14 cm in length, distinguished by its striking plumage. Its most prominent field mark is the clear, ash-grey crown and nape, which contrasts sharply with its bright olive-green upperparts and vivid yellow underparts extending from the throat to the vent. This species exhibits no significant sexual dimorphism, making identification straightforward across sexes. Taxonomically, it...
This species primarily inhabits humid evergreen rainforests, including montane forests, typically found at elevations ranging from 700 to 2,000 meters.
The diet of the Grey-crowned Tetraka consists predominantly of insects, including beetles, caterpillars, and ants, supplemented by spiders, which they glean from vegetation.
Grey-crowned Tetrakas are diurnal birds, frequently observed foraging in pairs or small family groups, often integrating into larger mixed-species foraging flocks alongside other Bernieridae and Vangas. They are active gleaners, methodically searching for insects and spiders among the mid-story a...
The Grey-crowned Tetraka is strictly endemic to the eastern humid forests of Madagascar. Its distribution is fragmented, occurring in a narrow band of primary evergreen and montane rainforests. Notable populations are found within protected areas such as Ranomafana National Park, Andasibe-Mantadi...
Vulnerable
- The Grey-crowned Tetraka is one of Madagascar's many endemic bird species, found nowhere else on Earth. - It belongs to the Bernieridae family, a unique avian lineage that underwent an extraordinary adaptive radiation on Madagascar. - Its conservation status as 'Vulnerable' highlights the criti...