Scaly Chatterer

Turdoides aylmeri

Other Names

    Cratérope d'Aylmer   Schuppenbrustdrossling         Garrulo squamato

World: NE Africa from NW Somalia, E Ethiopia, Kenya and N Tanzania.

Kenya: Uncommon in dry Commiphora bush on the plateau to the N, E and S of the Central Highlands.

This is a very active and vocal bird which occurs in small groups of 6-7 individuals in arid bush and woodland. From behind it is possible to confuse it with the Rufous Chatterer, however none of the 3 races shows the rich rufous to its underparts and the Scaly Chatterer has a distinctive blue-grey bare orbital patch. This is a relatively unstudied bird and little is known about its diet or breeding habits. It forages on the ground probably taking insects and occasionally eating seeds and fruits.

The bird pictured above is of the eastern race kenianus which shows more brown colouration below than the other 2 races.