Grauer's Broadbill Pseudocalyptomena graueri Scientific name definitions

13·6–15·6 cm; 29–32·5 g. A small, rather short-tailed  , green broadbill . Adult has finely black-streaked buff crown, narrow black eyestripe , light blue ear-coverts, moustachial area narrowly streaked black; nape and upperparts bright green; flight-feathers dark brown, edged green; tail green, tinged blue at base, outer feathers with brown inner webs; chin white, throat and breast pale blue , belly and flanks pale green  , undertail-coverts variably all blue  to blue-tipped green; iris blackish; bill black; legs and feet grey-green. Immature is duller, with green undertail-coverts.

E DRCongo (Itombwe Mts; Mt Kahuzi, W of L Kivu) and SW Uganda (Bwindi Impenetrable Forest).

Occupies primary montane forest , forest edge and bamboo-dominated forest, occasionally occurring in isolated trees in clearings and agricultural areas; 1760–2480 m in Zaire, 2060–2285 m in Uganda. In Zaire, occurs mainly below the bamboo zone, and appears to favour forest edge near cultivation, in areas of dense foliage, preferring upper levels of fairly tall trees; in Uganda, strongly associated with stands of the dominant tree Chrysophyllum gorungosanum on steep slopes, seeming to shun valley bottoms and areas where these trees not present in good stands, and prefers upper portions of understorey. These observations suggest some ecological differences between the two populations.

Resident. Possibly some short local movement; recent Aug record from Mubwindi Swamp, in Bwindi-Impenetrable Forest National Park, Uganda, thought perhaps to have involved an individual outside its normal range.

Three individuals observed to feed on the orange fruits of Xymalos monospora (Monimiaceae). Contents of five stomachs revealed a variety of food items: invertebrates were small beetles, a small snail, insects and insect larvae; vegetable matter comprised small seeds, small flowers, flower buds, remains of small fleshy fruits, and orange and green fruits. When rediscovered, in 1933, was observed in a large tree with abundant juicy berries. Forages singly or in small flocks of up to 10 birds. In Zaire, prefers the upper branches of fairly tall trees at levels of 7·5–25 m. In Uganda, found in upper parts of the forest understorey c. 2·5–3 m from ground and in Neoboutonia trees, feeding in the manner of a waxbill (Estrilda); also seen to join mixed-species foraging flocks. Sometimes forages near human habitation. In a recent observation in Uganda, 3 individuals feeding at 4–7 m in fruiting trees alternated between active feeding for 10–15 minutes and sitting motionless, either higher up in the food tree or in trees nearby, for 35–50 minutes. In addition, gleans insects from foliage in upward-directed sallies; possibly also takes them in mid-air. Also seen to climb up vertical branches and on underside of horizontal ones in manner of a woodpecker (Picidae), presumably seeking invertebrate prey, behaviour unlike that of other eurylaimids.

Weak  “tsi-tsi” or “cree-cree” repeated 3–8 times at c. 4 per second, similar to call of Oriole Finch (Linurgus olivaceus); in Uganda, also high-pitched “prrrp” at c. 30-second intervals, and high, feeble notes probably as contact; when breeding, long very high-pitched bell-like ringing in flight, but uncertain whether produced vocally or mechanically.

Birds in breeding condition in Jul–Aug, immature seen in Jul and juvenile with adult in Aug in Zaire; fledged young fed by adult in Mar, active nest found in Apr and 1 nest with 2 nestlings in Jul in Uganda. 1 nest found, a spherical structure c. 20–25 cm in diameter with side entrance c. 5 cm wide, with external layer of green lichen , suspended c. 11 m up in mid-canopy from outermost branches  of a tree and directly overhanging a stream, in open scrubby vegetation with many 20-m trees; presumed female was sitting in nest while partner perched quietly nearby. No other data.

VULNERABLE. Restricted-range species: present in Albertine Rift Mountains EBA. Quite common but localized in Itombwe Mts, but rare in the Impenetrable Forest  ; experienced observers in Uganda usually encounter it about once every 2 days. World range very small, and fragmented. Forest clearance around villages, commercial logging and mining activities all identified as potential threats, as well as recent dramatic increases in region’s human population owing to huge influx of refugees (large numbers concentrated at foot of Itombwe’s E escarpment and N of there); following recent crop failures, clearance for agriculture along edges of gallery montane forest in Itombwe has greatly increased. Species is well protected in Bwindi-Impenetrable Forest National Park, in Uganda. In Zaire, population in the mountains W of L Kivu is perhaps safeguarded in Kahuzi-Biéga National Park, although the area is under threat, and montane habitat in Itombwe, although still relatively intact, is not protected. The presence of seeds in stomachs of this eurylaimid could indicate that it plays an important role in dispersal of seeds of forest plants.