Blue-naped Mousebird

Urocolius macrourus

Other Names

Colius macrourus   Blue-naped Coly   Coliou huppé   Blaunacken-Mausvogel   Pájaro-ratón Nuquiazul   Blåhjässad musfågel   Blauwnekmuisvogel   Uccello topo nucazzurra

World: Afrotropical in a band between 10°N and 20°N from the western coast to Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia in the East and thence S through East Africa and on to the Eastern Zaire borders.

Kenya: Common and widespread below 1600m in bush and open wooded areas.

This is a dry country bird which is commonly seen at Samburu alongside the White-headed Mousebird (another dry country species). It feeds mainly on fruit but supplements this diet with leaves, flowers and buds. Interestingly world populations have declined in some areas (notably in Nigeria) while in Senegal the numbers have increased. It is probable that the introduction of neem trees from Asia have contributed to this success.