Woodwards' batis or the Zululand batis, is a species of small bird in the wattle-eyes family, Platysteiridae. It occurs in southeastern Africa where it is found in woodlands and forests.
Region
Southeastern Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs from northeastern South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal) through Eswatini and into southern Mozambique. It inhabits lowland and coastal evergreen forests, dune and sand-forest, riverine thickets, and dense secondary growth. The species favors shaded lower to mid canopies and forest edges with ample perches. It avoids open savanna and heavily degraded habitats but can persist in well-structured forest fragments.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 600 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Woodwards' batis, also called the Zululand batis, is a small flycatcher-like bird of the wattle-eyes family (Platysteiridae). Males show a bold black mask and breast band, while females have a brownish band, making sexing straightforward in the field. Pairs often duet to advertise and defend territories in dense coastal and lowland forests. It forages actively by sallying from shaded perches to catch insects.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically found as lone pairs maintaining year-round territories in dense forest. They perform short sallies from low to mid-level perches and may join mixed-species flocks along forest edges. Nests are neat, small cups placed in forked branches; both sexes participate in nesting duties.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a series of clear, whistled notes and soft piping phrases, often delivered as a duet by the pair. Calls include sharp ticks and plaintive ‘pwee’ notes, most active at dawn and in shaded forest interiors.
Plumage
Compact batis with slate-gray upperparts, clean white underparts, and a contrasting breast band. The male has a glossy black mask, cap, and breast band with a bright white supercilium and throat; female shows a warm brown breast band and softer mask. Both sexes display a bold white wing panel and narrow white tail edges.
Diet
Primarily small insects taken by sallying from perches and by gleaning foliage and twigs. Prey includes beetles, flies, moths, caterpillars, and other small arthropods; it may also snatch spiders. It hunts with quick, precise sorties and returns to the same or nearby perch.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in the lower to mid canopy of dense coastal and riverine forests, along edges, and in well-vegetated thickets. Often uses shaded perches with good visibility to launch short aerial sallies and to glean leaves and bark.
