Jameson's Wattle-eye Platysteira jamesoni Scientific name definitions

8–9 cm; 9–15 g. Tiny, stub-tailed flycatcher-like bird, with large turquoise-blue eye-wattles, dark chestnut-brown patch on neck-sides, grayish rump, glossy greenish-black upperparts and tail, as well as throat and breast, and otherwise bright white underparts; broad, flat bill is black, iris dark red-brown, legs and feet pale purple. Female is much like male, but has grayer upperparts, lacking much green gloss. Juvenile is dark gray on upperparts (even duller than adult female) and white below, with pale tawny-brown to chestnut throat and upper breast, on which black initially appears as a bar below chestnut; iris is mauve.

Adult is rather similar to Red-cheeked Wattle-eye (Platysteira blissetti), but the chestnut patch on head is smaller, being restricted to side of neck, and darker-colored; overall marginally larger too.

Commonly treated as conspecific with Red-cheeked Wattle-eye (Platysteira blissetti) and Black-necked Wattle-eye (Platysteira chalybea) but differs from latter in characters given under that species. Differs from former in its marginally larger size (effect size for wing 1.28, score 1); darker and much narrower chestnut moustachial patch (3); much lower edge to dark green throat and breast (2); and song a repeated single or double note vs a series of short notes at same pitch (3) and at slightly higher frequency (3800–4500 Hz vs 3500–3800 Hz) (1) (1 Boesman, P. (2016). Notes on the vocalizations of Blissett's Wattle-eye (Dyaphorophyia blissetti). HBW Alive Ornithological Note 185. In: Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Close ). This split is supported by genetic evidence (2 Njabo, K.Y., Bowie, R.C.K. and Sorenson, M.D. (2008). Phylogeny, biogeography and taxonomy of the African wattle-eyes (Aves: Passeriformes: Platysteiridae). Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 48(1): 136–149. Close ).

Monotypic.

Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Country in Central Africa (Uele, Kivu), Rwanda and Burundi east to western Kenya (Kakamega and Nandi Forests) and northwestern Tanzania (Bukoba area); also southern South Sudan (Lotti Forest).

Appears to prefer degraded forest and secondary patches throughout range, only occasionally inhabits primary forest; in Kenya, prefers denser forest undergrowth than Chestnut Wattle-eye (Platysteira castanea) and is most abundant in regenerating and primary forest patches. In Uganda, it favors tall undergrowth, lower branches, and creeper-clad trunks of large trees in dense forest. Mainly found above 700 m, reaching 1420 m in Itombwe and 1700 m at Rutshuru, both in DRCongo, and up to 2300 m in Kenya and Uganda.

Resident. Two young ringed in Kakamega (Kenya) were still present at same spot 31 months later. Probably moves (supposedly short distances) with change of habitat.

Microhabitat for Foraging

Mainly forages in the understory, often near the ground. Observed singly, in pairs or in small family groups of c. 4 individuals. Ecological relationships between this species and both Chestnut Wattle-eye (Platysteira castanea) and Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye (Platysteira concreta) require elucidation, although it appears that the last-named species forages at on average higher levels above ground than Platysteira jamesoni.

Major Food Items

Stomach contents of specimens collected in Kenya’s Kakamega Forest indicate diet consists of insect fragments (RD, personal communication).

Vocal Array

Reported to be quieter than other wattle-eyes; most frequently heard are a subdued “chawuk-chawuk-chawuk…” and a very soft “wuk, wuk, wuk…”, although both are only really audible at close range. Territorial song comprises a long series of high-pitched whistles  , e.g., “hee-hee-hee-hee-…”, which accelerates, from c. 20 notes/25 seconds to c. 20 notes in c. 17 seconds; in high-intensity defense, also produces hoarse “trr-trr” or buzzing “ZrrZrr” preceding long series of whistles at rate of c. 3/second, like those of Olive-green Camaroptera (Camaroptera chloronota), and culminating in a nasal “hee.” In flight, produces loud wing-snaps, presumably in display; also, a mechanical-sounding “whippy” by male when perched by upward movements of head and neck.

Mating System and Operational Sex Ratio

Probably monogamous.

Degree of Sociality

Observed singly, in pairs or in small family groups of c. 4 individuals.

No evidence of marked seasonality in Uganda, where birds in breeding condition collected in all months between January and October, except March, April, and September; in Democratic Republic of the Congo, males with enlarged gonads in May, September, and November; also, eggs in November in Democratic Republic of the Congo (Itombwe) and fledged young in November in Kenya. No further information.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Common in Okapi Faunal Reserve, in easternDemocratic Republic of the Congo, and locally common in Uganda, although less so than sympatric Chestnut Wattle-eye (Platysteira castanea) and is apparently extirpated from forest on northern bank of Lake Victoria; in Kenya, where fairly common in very restricted range (10–11 adults found in tract of 8 ha), long-term preservation of Kakamega and southern Nandi Forest is critical for this species. Occurs in Minziro Forest Reserve, in northwestern Tanzania. Known from two localities in South Sudan: Bengangai Game Reserve and Imatong Central Forest Reserve, where the species is believed to be rare.

Robin Duska. After a foreign affairs-centered career in 10 countries with two U.S. Government organizations and the United Nations, Robin Duska now focuses on bird-related and environmental volunteering and birding trips. She volunteers as a collections management assistant in Bird Division at the National Museum of Natural History, as a Virginia Master Naturalist leading local bird walks and counts, and on projects including the Reston Association State of the Environment Report. E-mail: duskar@si.edu