Forest batis
{{Short description|Species of bird}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Forest batis
| image = Flickr - Rainbirder - Short-tailed Batis (Batis mixta).jpg
| image_caption = Male Forest Batis
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| taxon = Batis mixta
| authority = (Shelley, 1889)
| synonyms =
}}
The forest batis or short-tailed batis (Batis mixta) is a species of bird in the wattle-eye family, Platysteiridae occurring in eastern Africa.
Taxonomy
The forest batis was formally described and illustrated by the English ornithologist George Ernest Shelley in 1889 and given the binomial name Pachypora mixta.{{ cite journal | last=Shelley | first=George Ernest | author-link=George Ernest Shelley | year=1889 | title=On the birds collected by Mr. H.C.V. Hunter F.Z.S. in Eastern Africa | journal=Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London | pages=356-372 [359-360], plate 40 | url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28699004 }}{{ cite book | editor1-last=Mayr | editor1-first=Ernst | editor1-link=Ernst Mayr | editor2-last=Cottrell | editor2-first=G. William | year=1986 | title=Check-List of Birds of the World | volume=11 | publisher=Museum of Comparative Zoology | place=Cambridge, Massachusetts | page=379 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14484080 }} It is now one of 20 species placed in the genus Batis that was introduced by the German zoologist Friedrich Boie in 1833.{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | editor3-last=Rasmussen | editor3-first=Pamela | editor3-link=Pamela C. Rasmussen | date=February 2025 | title=Batises, bushshrikes, boatbills, vangas (sensu lato) | work=IOC World Bird List Version 15.1 | url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/bow/batises/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union | access-date=10 March 2025}} The specific epithet mixta is Latin for "mixed" or "mingled".{{ cite web | last=Jobling | first=James A. | title=mixta | work=The Key to Scientific Names | url=https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/key-to-scientific-names/search?q=mixta | publisher=Cornell Lab of Ornithology | access-date=10 March 2025}}
Two subspecies are recognised:
- B. m. mixta (Shelley, 1889) – southeast Kenya to northeast Tanzania
- B. m. reichenowi Grote, 1911 – southeast Tanzania{{ cite journal | last=Grote | first=Hermann | author-link=Hermann Grote | year=1911 | title=Neue Vogelarten aus Ostafrica | language=German | journal=Ornithologische Monatsberichte | volume=19 | issue=9 | pages=162-163 [162] | url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/32971224 }}
The subspecies B. m. reichenowi has sometimes been considered as a separte species, Reichenow's batis. Although the plumage of Reichenow's batis is distinctive, an analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences published in 2006 found that the DNA from specimens of Reichenow's batis were nested within sequences of the forest batis.{{cite journal | last1=Fjeldså | first1=Jon | last2=Bowie | first2=Rauri C.K. | last3=Kiure | first3=Jacob | year=2006 | title=The forest batis, Batis mixta, is two species: description of a new, narrowly distributed Batis species in the Eastern Arc biodiversity hotspot | journal=Journal of Ornithology | volume=147 | issue=4 | pages=578–590 | doi=10.1007/s10336-006-0082-4 | url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/225581861 }}
Description
The forest batis is a small species measuring {{cvt|9.5|-|10|cm}} in length and weighing {{cvt|10.5|–|14.2|g}}.{{ cite book | last=Louette | first=M. | year=2006 | chapter=Family Platysteiridae (Batises and wattle-eyes) | editor1-last=del Hoyo | editor1-first=J. | editor2-last=Elliott | editor2-first=A. | editor3-last=Sargatal | editor3-first=J. | title=Handbook of the Birds of the World | volume=11: Old Word flycatchers to Old World Warblers | location=Barcelona, Spain | publisher=Lynx Edicions | isbn=978-84-96553-06-4 | pages=164-199 [186-187] | chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/handbookofbirdso0011unse/page/186/mode/1up | chapter-url-access=registration }} The adult male has bluish grey upperparts with a black mask across the face, a white spot on the lores and white spots on the rump which are revealed when the long feathers are fluffed out. The underparts are white with a black breast band and blackish thighs. The wings are black with a white stripe, the bill and legs are black while the eyes are red. Females are similar in pattern but the upper part colour is more olive in tone, the wings more reddish brown and has a mottled rufous breast band and browner wings. Juveniles similar to female but markings less well differentiated. The short black tail is edged with white.{{cite book | last1 = Harris | first1 = Tony | last2 = Franklin | first2 = Kim | year = 2000 | title = Shrikes and Bush-shrikes | publisher = Christopher Helm | pages = 300–301 | isbn = 0-7136-3861-3}}
Distribution and habitat
The forest batis is found in east Africa from the south eastern coast of Kenya and north eastern Tanzania including Mount Kilimanjaro, along the northern Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania, i.e. Nguru, Nguu, Usambara Mountains, Pare and Kilimanjaro. It is also found in coastal south eastern Tanzania.{{cite web | url = http://www.fitzpatrick.uct.ac.za/sites/default/files/image_tool/images/275/Publications/PDF_Archive/Africa_Birds_And_Birding/Subject_Index/fitzdj06.pdf | title = A New Batis for East Africa | accessdate = 2016-11-04 | publisher = Percy Fitzpatrick Institutes|work = Africa Birds & Birding}}
The forest batis is found in coastal forest, miombo woodland and in montane forest from sea level up to {{Convert|2300|m|ft|abbr=on}} on Kilimanjaro. It frequents the lower levels of forest and the undergrowth.
Behaviour
The habits of the forest batis are little known, there have been indications of breeding behaviour in May and June in Kenya, September and October in Tanzania and a single nest with a clutch of 2 eggs has been recorded. Like other batises the largest groups seen are small family groups and pairs are territorial. Calling males make a repetitive, slow series of hu-hu-hu-hu whistles and they puff their white throat feathers out while performing this song.
References
{{Commons category|Batis mixta}}
{{Reflist}}
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