The western black-headed batis or Von Erlanger's batis, is a species of passerine bird in the wattle-eye family Platysteiridae. It is found over an extensive area of central Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and moist savanna. It was formerly treated as conspecific with the eastern black-headed batis.
Region
Central Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs widely in central African woodland mosaics, including dry forests, wooded savannas, and forest edges. It favors acacia and broad-leaved woodland, gallery forest margins, and thickets near clearings. The species also uses secondary growth and shrublands created by disturbance, provided there is adequate cover and perches. It is typically absent from dense, closed-canopy rainforest interiors but common along edges and ecotones.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
Also known as Von Erlanger's batis, this small flycatcher-like songbird belongs to the Platysteiridae (wattle-eyes and batises). It was formerly lumped with the eastern black-headed batis but is now recognized as a distinct species. Males show a crisp black head and breast band, while females typically have a warmer, buff-toned breast band. It hunts by sallying from low to mid-level perches to snatch small insects.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs that maintain year-round territories. Builds a small, neat cup nest suspended in a fork of a shrub or small tree. Pairs engage in courtship feeding and duetting, and may join mixed-species foraging flocks along forest edges.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Produces clear, high-pitched whistles in short series, often delivered from a prominent perch. Pairs frequently duet antiphonally, creating a sharp, piping exchange that carries well through woodland.
Plumage
Compact batis with smooth, contrasting plumage: a glossy black head and mask in the male, bright white underparts with a bold black breast band, and gray to slate upperparts with a clean white wing panel. The female is similar but the head appears slightly duller and the breast band is buff to rufous-tinged rather than solid black.
Diet
Primarily small insects such as beetles, flies, ants, termites, and caterpillars; also takes spiders and other arthropods. Forages by sallying from low to mid-canopy perches and by gleaning from leaves and twigs. Makes quick, darting flights to capture prey and returns to a perch to consume it.
Preferred Environment
Feeds along forest edges, open woodland, riparian thickets, and secondary growth with scattered shrubs and small trees. Often hunts from exposed perches with good sightlines, sometimes accompanying mixed-species flocks.
