Poliolais lopezi
The White-tailed Warbler (Poliolais lopezi) is a diminutive and elusive passerine, a true jewel of the African montane forests. Measuring approximately 11-12 cm in length and weighing around 8-12 grams, this small warbler exhibits a striking contrast of dark and light plumage. Adults boast a distinctive black cap, an olive-brown back and wings, and a contrasting bright white throat and underparts, often with a grey wash on the flanks. A key diagnostic feature, and the source of its common nam...
Found exclusively in submontane and montane evergreen forests, typically at elevations ranging from 700 to 2,500 meters, preferring dense understory and bamboo thickets.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on small invertebrates such as beetles, caterpillars, spiders, and other arthropods, typically gleaned from leaves and bark.
White-tailed Warblers are generally solitary or found in pairs, often joining mixed-species foraging flocks, particularly with other forest passerines. They are active during the day, foraging primarily in the understory and lower to mid-canopy strata. Their foraging strategy involves actively gl...
The White-tailed Warbler has a fragmented but stable distribution across several montane regions of West and Central Africa. Its primary breeding range includes isolated populations in eastern Nigeria (Obudu Plateau), western Cameroon (Cameroon Highlands), Bioko Island (Equatorial Guinea), and wi...
Least Concern
- The White-tailed Warbler is one of the few bird species endemic to the Afromontane regions of West and Central Africa. - Despite its 'warbler' moniker, it belongs to the unique African Warbler family (Macrosphenidae), making it genetically distinct from typical 'Old World' or 'New World' warble...