Urocolius indicus
The Red-faced Mousebird inhabits a wide range of habitats, from thickets in arid scrublands to mature riverine woodland, though they’re most commonly encountered in savanna-type vegetation. Ready access to drinking water is an important habitat requirement. They’re also common in orchards, suburban parks and gardens. It feeds on leaves, flowers, nectar, fruits and seeds, clambering about the branches of trees and shrubs in a rodent-like fashion, showcasing how this ancient family of uniquely African birds got their name. They love taking dustbaths and lazing on the ground in the full glare of the sun.
Usually moving around in small groups of up to a dozen birds outside of the breeding season, Red-faced Mousebirds form monogamous pairs during the spring and summer breeding season. Both partners work on the construction of the nest, an untidy cup-shaped collection of twigs, grass and leaves, in which a clutch of 1-7 eggs are incubated by both parents for a two week duration. The chicks grow very quickly, leaving the nest when they’re only 2-3 weeks old and becoming independent soon after. Fully grown, and including their tails, Red-faced Mousebirds measure around 32cm in length and weigh approximately 56g.
As it is a widespread and common species the IUCN considers the Red-faced Mousebird to be of least concern. They occur in all South Africa’s provinces, and beyond our borders as far north as Angola and southern Tanzania.
That first photo looks like it was posing in a studio. Great shot!
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Thanks, Siobhan. Having the right model helps a lot!
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Stoute voëls, hul eet nie die vrugte klaar nie hul moet almal pik om net die lekker dele te kry. Dis nou al jare laas dat ek hul gesien het(10 jaar) hier is rosellas, meer n papagaaitjie wat ook so in groepies lawaaierig vlieg van lekker eetplek na die volgende een.
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Dankie Ineke. Ja, dit is so dat muisvoels baie lastig en selfs n pes in n boord kan wees, maar ek geniet hul kaskenades so dat ek nie vir hulle kwaad kan wees daaroor nie.
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Is so, hul is ook baie spraaksaam as hul so vlieg en beweeg.
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Lovely photos and I agree with Anne about the colour of the jasmine buds echoing the colour on the face of the bird. We very occasionally have speckled mousebirds visiting our garden (they used to be common here decades ago), but I have not see red-faced mousebirds around here so I enjoy seeing them in Zululand nature reserves.
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Thank you very much, Carol. I’m actually surprised to read that neither mousebird species frequents that wonderful garden of yours!
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What a pretty bird, Dries. Your opening shot of him looking straight on surrounded by red and white flowers is fabulous.
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I will gladly and gratefully accept the compliment, thank you Jane, though the shot was entirely conceived by my model. 🙂
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Well, I’ve never heard of this before…looks quite a gentle bird
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And that it is, Sue, until they encounter an orchard!
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OK!
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Your header picture is perfect – colour matching to a T! I have recorded red-faced mousebirds in our garden before, but not for about four years. They used to arrive to eat figs and other indigenous berries. Instead, the speckled mousebirds have made themselves very ‘at home’ here and I see them daily.
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I think they may have moved here, Anne, for suddenly we see them in our garden much more frequently than before.
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This adds meaning to the rhetorical question, “Was my face red?”😅Cute little bird, Dries. 😍
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They do look like they’re blushing shyly at some inappropriate compliment!
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A very pretty bird! My first time to view him too 🙂
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They’re beautiful and fascinating to watch, Takami. A real pity they’re not “glamarous” enough for the TV documentaries so more people could learn about them.
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Very interesting! I have not seen this bird before.
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Glad we had the opportunity to introduce you then, thanks Anne!
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No need to be red-faced with embarrassment. It’s quite a pretty bird. 🙂
janet
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It does look quite embarrassed, no?
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And it has such an unusual name.
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If you see the scampering through the branches the name makes perfect sense
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I’ve never seen this bird, not even in pictures. Quite interesting! Thank you, D. 🙂
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Great to know we could introduce you to another one of our special birds, H.J. When are you coming here for a visit?
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