The West African batis is a species of bird in the family Platysteiridae. It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is sometimes considered a subspecies of the Fernando Po batis.
Region
West Africa
Typical Environment
Occupies humid lowland evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, including mature primary forest and well-structured secondary growth. It uses forest edges, riparian gallery forest, and tree-fall gaps where light increases insect activity. Often forages from lower to mid-levels, but will move into subcanopy along edges. Avoids open savanna and heavily degraded farmland, though it may persist in wooded agroforestry with shade trees.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This small flycatcher-like bird of the family Platysteiridae is a canopy and mid-story insect hunter that often forages in pairs. It is sometimes treated as conspecific with the Fernando Po batis of Bioko, but differs subtly in voice and plumage. Pairs frequently duet with clear, whistled notes to maintain contact in dense forest. Its sally-gleaning feeding style helps control small arthropods in forest habitats.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically encountered in pairs or small family groups defending a territory year-round. Builds a small, neat cup nest in a forked branch, often well concealed. Both sexes participate in nesting duties and maintain close contact while foraging.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A series of clear, whistled notes and short phrases, often delivered as antiphonal duets between mates. Calls include sharp chips and soft psee whistles used frequently in dense foliage.
Plumage
Compact batis with dark grey to black upperparts and clean white underparts, a bold white wing patch, and contrasting facial mask. Male shows a sharp black breast band; female’s band is chestnut to rufous. Tail is dark with white outer edges; neat, crisp patterning overall.
Diet
Feeds mainly on small insects and other arthropods such as beetles, flies, caterpillars, and spiders. Forages by sallying from perches to snatch prey on the wing or by hover-gleaning from leaves and twigs. Occasionally takes prey from dead leaf clusters and vine tangles where insects hide.
Preferred Environment
Searches along forest edges, light gaps, and mid-story perches inside shady lowland forest. Often follows small mixed-species flocks along edges and in secondary growth where prey is abundant.
