Batis senegalensis
The Senegal Batis (Batis senegalensis) is a striking and active passerine belonging to the wattle-eye and batis family, Platysteiridae. This small bird typically measures 10-11 cm in length and weighs a mere 8-12 grams, making it one of the more diminutive residents of its West African habitat. Males are particularly distinctive, boasting a broad black breast band, a prominent black facial mask, and a clean white supercilium, contrasted by a black back and white underparts with a notable whit...
Found primarily in dry savanna, open woodlands, acacia scrub, and gallery forest edges, often favoring areas with thorny bushes. It typically inhabits low to moderate elevations across its range.
Mainly insectivorous, feeding on a variety of small invertebrates including beetles, ants, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and spiders. It primarily forages by gleaning from foliage and by aerial flycatching.
The Senegal Batis is a highly active and restless diurnal bird, constantly flitting through the canopy and undergrowth in search of prey. Its foraging strategy is primarily gleaning, meticulously picking insects from leaves and twigs, but it also employs aerial flycatching techniques, sallying ou...
The Senegal Batis is a widespread resident breeder across a significant portion of West Africa. Its distribution extends from Senegal and Gambia eastward through Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and northern Nigeria, continuing into Chad and the Central African Republic, and south to parts of Cameroon....
Least Concern
- The Senegal Batis is often referred to as a 'flycatcher' due to its active sallying behavior, despite not being closely related to true flycatchers. - Its striking sexual dimorphism, particularly the distinct breast band coloration, makes identifying males and females relatively easy in the fie...