The red-cheeked wattle-eye is a species of bird in the family Platysteiridae. It is found in Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
Region
West Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs in humid lowland forests from Sierra Leone and Guinea east through Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, and into western Cameroon. It favors primary and mature secondary forests, gallery forests, and dense vine tangles near edges and clearings. Most activity is in the shaded understorey and lower mid-storey, where it moves methodically among lianas and saplings. It tolerates some disturbance but declines where forest is heavily fragmented.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The red-cheeked wattle-eye is a small, active forest bird of West Africa, notable for the male’s vivid red facial wattles and cheek patch. It often forages in the shaded understorey, making quick sallies to snatch insects. Pairs keep close contact with soft calls and duets. Habitat loss in lowland forests is the primary concern for this species.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between perches
Social Behavior
Usually found singly or in pairs that maintain small territories in dense understorey. Pairs often duet and keep visual contact while foraging. The nest is a small cup placed low in shrubs or saplings, with both parents participating in care.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A series of clear, whistled notes and sharp ticking calls, often given antiphonally by a pair. Duets are crisp and repetitive, carrying well in dense forest. Alarm calls are dry, snapping ticks.
Plumage
Compact wattle-eye with glossy black upperparts and head, bright white underparts, and a bold white wing patch. Males show rich rufous cheeks with conspicuous red facial wattles; females are browner above with buffier underparts and reduced cheek color.
Diet
Primarily hunts small insects such as flies, beetles, ants, and caterpillars, and also takes spiders. Forages by gleaning from leaves and twigs and by short sallies to capture airborne prey. Occasionally picks small arthropods from vine tangles and suspended dead leaves.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in dense understorey and lower mid-storey of humid forest, especially along edges, gaps, and gallery forest. Often concentrates around lianas, creepers, and thickets where prey is abundant.
