Grey Wren Warbler

Calamonastes simplex

Other Names

    Camaroptère modeste   Somalibindensänger         Calamonastes grigio

World: Africa - in the NE range is from S Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia, S through Kenya, NE Uganda and E Tanzania. Across the southern part of the continent the range is from the lower Congo basin and Angola across to E Zaire.

Kenya: Found across much of the country where there are suitably dry brush and wooded habitats. Mostly absent from the Lake Victoria Basin.

This is a shy bird of dense bush and undergrowth. It can be difficult to spot except when you catch a glimpse of its tail which it constantly moves up and down as it forages. It is also very vocal and has a sharp call that is reminiscent of 2 stones being struck together. It is normally seen singly or in pairs. It is a distinctive bird which is diicult to mistake for anything else. It has an overall dark brownish-grey colour except for the tail which is black (and its red eye). Seen very close its sides show very faint white barring.