Melaenornis annamarulae
The Nimba Flycatcher, Melaenornis annamarulae, is a captivating yet elusive Old World flycatcher, first formally described in 1996, making it a relatively recent ornithological discovery. Measuring approximately 18-19 cm (7.1-7.5 inches) in length, this medium-sized passerine is characterized by its uniformly dark, glossy blackish-blue plumage, which can appear almost violet in certain lights. A key field mark distinguishing it from other dark forest birds is its distinctively pale grey or wh...
This species primarily inhabits the dense understory and mid-strata of moist evergreen submontane and montane forests, typically found at elevations between 700 and 1600 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, the Nimba Flycatcher feeds on a variety of arthropods, including beetles, ants, and flies, caught mainly through sallying flights from perches.
The Nimba Flycatcher is generally an inconspicuous and solitary bird, occasionally observed in pairs, often perched upright and motionless for extended periods within the forest undergrowth. Its foraging strategy involves short, agile sallies from a perch to snatch flying insects from the air or ...
The Nimba Flycatcher has an extremely restricted and fragmented geographic distribution, being endemic solely to the Nimba Mountains, a transboundary range shared by Liberia, Guinea, and Côte d'Ivoire in West Africa. Its presence is confined to high-altitude evergreen forests, specifically betwee...
Endangered
- The Nimba Flycatcher was only formally described in 1996, making it one of the more recently discovered African bird species. - Its scientific name, *annamarulae*, honors Anna Marla, the daughter of the ornithologist J. Frank Walther, who collected the type specimen. - It is endemic to a tiny, ...