Chestnut-throated Apalis Apalis porphyrolaema Scientific name definitions

12 cm; male 7–11 g, female 7–10 g. A grey apalis of forest canopy, having chestnut throat and fairly long and graduated tail . Nominate race has crown and upperparts slate-grey, perhaps slightly darker lores and cheek; tail dark grey, narrowly tipped whitish; throat chestnut, this colour extending slightly onto central breast, cleanly separated from pale grey breast, belly and vent; central belly slightly paler grey; underwing-coverts white, washed chestnut; iris reddish-brown; bill black; legs yellowish-pink. Differs from vaguely similar female A. rufogularis in having throat darker chestnut (not pale buffish) and underparts darker (not whitish). Sexes alike. Juvenile is duller than adult, with olive wash on upperparts, creamy-buff throat. Race <em>affinis</em> has darker chestnut throat than nominate, underparts whiter.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Confined to Afrotropical highlands biome; occurs in montane forest, gallery forest and edges, and secondary forest, at 1600–3400 m. In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest , in Uganda, largely confined to hill slopes, whereas A. jacksoni occurs in valley-floor forest.

Song  a distinctive, high-pitched trill, “trrreeeeeeee” or “cha-rrrreeeeeee”, lasting 1–2 seconds, repeated 2–3 times, and sometimes preceded by a few short, sharp notes as “chip chip-arrreeeeeee”; by both sexes, sometimes in duet. Also a low, churring rattle, often by several birds together. Countersings with A. alticola in S Kenya.