The Red-faced mousebird is locally common in all countries in
southern Africa, and lives in a wide variety of habitats. It feeds mainly on
fruit, with flowers largely making up the rest of its diet. The nest is a small
cup of twigs, leaves and stems, placed 2-8 metres above ground in a tree or
bush. It lays 1-7 eggs, which are incubated for 14-20 days, by both sexes and
sometimes a helper. The chicks are brooded for the first few days of their life,
sometimes by both adults at once. They stay in the nest for 14-20 days, before
becoming independent.
Distribution and habitat
Occurs from southern Angola, Zambia and Malawi to southern
Africa, where it is common in non-arid areas. It generally prefers Acacia savanna and thickets,
gardens, woodland with nearby rivers, strandveld, gardens and orchards.
Its diet is dominated by fruit, supplemented with nectar,
flowers and leaves. It typically forages in
groups of 3-10, landing in trees and bushes to forage.
Monogamous, cooperative breeder, meaning that
the breeding pair are assisted by helpers. Courtship involves preening and
a "bouncing display", in which one bird bounces up and down on its perch, the
tempo increasing as its mate gets closer.
The nest is built by both sexes, consisting of an untidy, small cup of twigs,
leaves and stems lined with soft material. It is typically placed 2-8 metres above
ground, in a tree or shrub.
Egg-laying is usually from June to February, peaking from
September-November.
It lays 1-7 eggs, which are incubated by both sexes and sometimes helpers, for 10-15 days.
The chicks are brooded for the first few days of their life, sometimes
by both adults at once. They stay in the nest for 14-20 days, after which
they become fully independent.
Threats
Not threatened.
References
Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ and Ryan PG (eds) 2005. Roberts
- Birds of southern Africa, VIIth ed. The Trustees of the John Voelcker
Bird Book Fund, Cape Town.
