Speckled Mousebird

Colius striatus

Other Names

  Bar-breasted Mousebird, Bar-breasted Coly, Speckled Coly   Coliou rayé, Coliou strié, Coliou barré   Braunflügel-Mausvogel   Pájaro-ratón Común   Fläckig musfågel   Gespikkelde Muisvogel   Uccello topo marezzato

World: Africa: Nigeria, Central Africa Republic, S Sudan, Ethiopia and S Somalia and S to 10°S. Below 10°S it is confined to the eastern part of the continent.

Kenya: Mostly absent from the arid N and E of the country (except highland areas). Elsewhere common in open bush and woodland.

These are conspicuous birds which are highly social, feeding together and engaging in mutual preening. They frequently go to ground to dust bathe and occasionally to eat soil. At night they roost in very tight groups of 20 or so birds and on cold nights they become torpid. They are predominantly brown in colour, including the crest. In strong light, with the crest well spread (as in the picture above) it can sometimes look pale and the bird may be confused with the less common White-headed Mousebird. However the 2 tone bill (black above and pink below) lack of white on the crown and the lack of a bare grey orbital patch distinguish the 2 species.