Eremomela icteropygialis
The Yellow-bellied Eremomela (Eremomela icteropygialis) is a diminutive and active passerine, a jewel of the African savanna. Measuring a mere 10-12 centimeters in length and weighing just 6-9 grams, this tiny warbler is characterized by its soft grey upperparts and a striking bright yellow belly, which gives it its common name. A clean white throat, often with a faint dark malar stripe, and a delicate pale eye-ring or supercilium on a grey head further aid identification in the field. It bel...
Primarily found in dry savannas, acacia woodlands, bushlands, and thickets, often favoring areas with thorny vegetation. It occupies elevations from sea level up to approximately 2,000 meters across its extensive range.
Chiefly insectivorous, feeding on small invertebrates such as caterpillars, beetles, ants, and termites. It forages primarily by gleaning prey from foliage and bark.
The Yellow-bellied Eremomela is a highly active, diurnal insectivore, constantly on the move, flitting through the canopy and mid-story of shrubs and trees. Its foraging strategy involves meticulous gleaning of insects from leaves and twigs, often hanging upside down or darting acrobatically to s...
The Yellow-bellied Eremomela is widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, primarily in a broad band stretching from the Atlantic coast of Senegal and Mauritania eastward through the Sahel region to Somalia and the Horn of Africa. Its range extends southwards through East Africa, covering coun...
Least Concern
- Despite its common name emphasizing the yellow belly, the scientific epithet "icteropygialis" translates to "yellow-rumped," an interesting distinction that can sometimes lead to confusion.- These tiny birds weigh less than a standard letter, typically between 6 and 9 grams, making them one of ...