Dyaphorophyia tonsa
The White-spotted Wattle-eye (*Dyaphorophyia tonsa*) is a captivating small passerine, typically measuring 12-13 cm (4.7-5.1 inches) in length, renowned for its striking plumage and prominent ocular wattles. Males exhibit glossy black upperparts contrasting sharply with pristine white underparts, most notably featuring a distinctive white forehead spot and a prominent, often erectile, blue-black wattle above each eye. Females generally share this pattern but frequently display a rufous or che...
A resident of lowland evergreen rainforests, this species thrives in primary forest, mature secondary growth, and forest edges, typically at elevations from sea level up to 1,200 meters (3,900 feet). It often favors areas with dense undergrowth and proximity to streams or damp areas.
Primarily insectivorous, its diet consists mainly of beetles, flies, moths, caterpillars, and other small invertebrates, which it captures by gleaning from leaves, sallying after airborne prey, or hover-gleaning.
The White-spotted Wattle-eye is a highly active, diurnal insectivore, typically observed singly or in pairs, occasionally joining mixed-species foraging flocks in the forest mid-story and understory. It employs agile foraging techniques, including gleaning insects from foliage, sallying out to ca...
The White-spotted Wattle-eye is exclusively found across West and Central Africa, inhabiting a broad, somewhat fragmented, distribution. Its primary range extends from Sierra Leone and Liberia eastward through Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo, so...
Least Concern
- The prominent blue-black wattles above its eyes are not feathers but fleshy growths that can expand or contract, often used in courtship displays or territorial defense. - Despite its small size, at just 12-13 cm, it is an incredibly agile hunter, capable of intricate aerial maneuvers to catch ...