Alethe diademata
The White-tailed Alethe (Alethe diademata) is a medium-sized, strikingly plumaged passerine belonging to the Muscicapidae family, often considered an Old World flycatcher, though formerly placed with thrushes. Measuring approximately 16-18 cm in length and weighing around 24-33 grams, it exhibits a dark, glossy black head and upperparts, contrasting sharply with a bright rufous-chestnut throat and breast that fades to white on the belly. Its most distinctive field mark, giving the species its...
This alethe primarily inhabits the dense understory of tropical and subtropical moist lowland and montane forests, typically found at elevations ranging from sea level up to 1,800 meters.
The diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates gleaned from the forest floor, supplemented by small fruits and berries.
White-tailed Alethes are generally solitary or found in pairs, exhibiting a remarkably shy and secretive demeanor, often remaining deep within the forest undergrowth. They are diurnal, active during daylight hours, and typically forage by hopping on the forest floor, flicking leaves and probing t...
The White-tailed Alethe is a resident species distributed across a fragmented range in West and Central Africa, primarily inhabiting the Upper and Lower Guinean forests. Its range extends from Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, eastward through Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, and Benin, ...
Least Concern
- The White-tailed Alethe's scientific name, 'diademata', means 'crowned', though its common name focuses on its tail, highlighting its most striking field mark. - Despite its small size, its song is remarkably loud and far-carrying, a characteristic often used by birders to detect its presence b...