Colius castanotus
The Red-backed Mousebird, Colius castanotus, is a strikingly marked member of the unique mousebird family (Coliidae), endemic to Angola. Measuring approximately 30-36 cm in length, including its exceptionally long, stiff tail, and weighing 32-62 grams, it is characterized by its soft, greyish-brown plumage, a short, spiky crest, and a prominent, distinctive chestnut-red patch on its lower back, which gives it its common name. Its long tail comprises over half of its total length, contributing...
Primarily inhabits dry woodlands, savannas, miombo scrub, and semi-arid bushlands, often favoring areas with fruiting trees and dense vegetation. Found at elevations typically ranging from sea level up to 1,500 meters.
Primarily frugivorous, consuming a wide variety of wild fruits, berries, leaves, buds, flowers, and nectar. Forages by gleaning and clambering acrobatically through vegetation.
Red-backed Mousebirds are highly social and diurnal, typically observed in small, cohesive family groups or larger flocks of up to 20-30 individuals, which forage and roost together. At night, they huddle tightly in communal roosts, sometimes forming dense pyramids to conserve heat, especially du...
The Red-backed Mousebird (Colius castanotus) is strictly endemic to Angola, making it one of the few avian species whose entire natural range lies within a single country. Its distribution covers much of central and western Angola, extending from the coast inland, particularly favoring the biomes...
Least Concern
- The "mousebird" name stems from their soft, grey plumage and the way they creep and scurry through foliage, resembling mice. - Red-backed Mousebirds are one of only six species in the unique avian order Coliiformes, an ancient lineage found exclusively in Africa. - They possess pamprodactyl fee...