Apalis personata
The Mountain Masked Apalis, Apalis personata, is a small, striking warbler endemic to the montane forests of East and Central Africa. Measuring approximately 12-14 cm in length and weighing around 10-14 grams, its most distinctive feature is the prominent black mask covering its face and ear coverts, sharply contrasting with its bright yellow underparts. The upperparts are a dull olive-green to greyish-green, with darker, brownish-grey wings and tail. Its long tail is often cocked or flicked,...
This species primarily inhabits moist Afromontane forest, including bamboo zones, secondary growth, and forest edges, typically at elevations between 1,500 and 3,300 meters.
Its diet consists almost exclusively of small insects and their larvae, gleaned actively from foliage, bark, and mosses within the forest understory and mid-canopy.
The Mountain Masked Apalis is an active and restless bird, constantly flitting through the understory and mid-canopy in search of food. It is largely diurnal, beginning foraging at dawn and roosting communally or individually in dense foliage at dusk. Foraging involves gleaning insects from leave...
The Mountain Masked Apalis is a resident species found throughout the Afromontane forests of the Albertine Rift and other East African mountain ranges. Its distribution spans eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, and extends into western Kenya and northwestern Tanzania. K...
Least Concern
- The Mountain Masked Apalis is often found associating with mixed-species foraging flocks, particularly with other warblers and sunbirds, which may offer increased protection from predators. - Despite its vibrant yellow underparts, its olive-green back provides excellent camouflage against the d...