Southern Malawi header: Lilian's Lovebirds

Systemmatic list - part 19: Livingstone's Flycatcher, Reed Warblers, Apalises, Camaropteras and Wren-Warblers

 

Livingstone's Flycatcher Erythrocercus livingstonei [3+]

At least 3 Liwonde 27th - a delightful family party at Mvuu camp. The photos I took last time were the first I could find anywhere on the internet - there are only a few more now!

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Livingstone's Flycatcher, Liwonde, 27th May 2011 - adult with dark subterminal tail bar and juvenile without

 

African Reed Warbler Acrocephalus baeticatus [4]

4 Lake Chilwa 15th. In addition an unidentified Acropcephalus sp. was glimpsed at Liwonde 26th.

 

Yellow-throated Apalis Apalis (thoracica) flavigularis [1]

1 Zomba Plateau 16th. Although we failed to find the White-winged Apalis Apalis chariessa in John Wilson's garden, we made up for it by finding this beauty! It was along the outer circular drive near Chiradzulu Peak, just south of the turn-off to Chingwe's Hole.

Yellow-throated Apalis is sometimes treated as a race of Bar-throated Apalis but now often treated as a distinct species. If accepting its status as a full species then I believe it is the only species that is endemic to Malawi.

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Yellow-throated Apalis, Chiradzulu (Zomba Plateau), 16th May 2011

 

Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida [4]

2 Lilongwe Nature Reserve 24th and singles Liwonde 26th and 27th. One of my favourites last trip, and still one of my favourites this trip! Stunning little birds!

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Yellow-breasted Apalis, Liwonde, 26th May 2011

 

Black-headed Apalis Apalis melanocephala [12+]

Up to 10 Zomba Plateau 15th-17th and 1 Zomba 17th. There was a family in the trees behind where we stayed at Waterboard Cottage and more along the track above Ku Chawe trout farm.

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adult and juvenile Black-headed Apalises, Waterboard Cottage (Zomba Plateau), 15th May 2011

 

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Black-headed Apalises, Ku Chawe (Zomba Plateau), 16th May 2011

 

Green-backed Camaroptera (Bleating Bush-Warbler) Camaroptera (brachyura) brachyura [1]

Grey-backed Camaroptera (Bleating Bush-Warbler) Camaroptera (brachyura) brevicaudata [1]

1 Lengwe 21st and 1 along the exit track from Cape Maclear 19th.

Many authorities now treat Green- and Grey-backed Camaroptera as distinct species. Malawi is one of the places where the Green-backed and Grey-backed Camaroptera intergrade readily and the authors of Birds of Malawi are strong in their assertion that there is no justification in the split. Apparently the green-backed race in southern Malawi is bororensis and the grey-backed race is sharpei.

The description of the habitat and range of each would suggest that the Lengwe bird should have been Grey-backed, but in a brief view it appeared to be Green-backed (or intergrade). The bird near Cape Maclear certainly had a grey back.

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Grey-backed Camaroptera, south of Cape Maclear, 19th May 2011

 

Stierling's Wren-Warbler Calamonastes stierlingi [1]

2 Dzalanyama 23rd.

This species is sometimes treated as a race of Pale Wren-Warbler (Miombo Camaroptera) Calamonastes undosus and is sometimes placed in the genus Camaroptera.

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Stierling's Wren-Warbler, Dzalanyama, 23rd May 2011

 

 

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