The Gabela akalat is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to Angola. The name is in part derived from the town where they were first observed, Gabela.
Region
Angolan Scarp (western Angola)
Typical Environment
Occurs in remnant moist evergreen and semi-deciduous scarp forests of western Angola, especially around Gabela, Kumbira Forest, and the Namba (Namba/Amboim) highlands. It favors dense, shaded understory with abundant leaf litter, vine tangles, and thickets. The species can persist in secondary growth and forest edges if cover is intact, but it is sensitive to heavy clearing and fragmentation. Territories are typically small and patchily distributed where suitable understory persists.
Altitude Range
600–1700 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Gabela akalat is a shy, understory insect-eater of Angola’s western escarpment forests and belongs to the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae. It is best detected by its clear, melodious song rather than by sight. Ongoing loss and degradation of scarp forest remnants have made it one of Angola’s most conservation-sensitive endemics.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually encountered alone or in pairs, moving quietly through dense cover and low perches. Breeding is presumed monogamous with a cup nest placed low in shrubs or dense tangles. Pairs defend small territories and keep close to thick foliage for cover.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a clear, mellow series of whistled notes and short phrases delivered from concealed perches. Calls include thin, high chips used for contact and soft alarms. Vocalizations carry well through dense understory and are key for detection.
