Miombo Tit Melaniparus griseiventris Scientific name definitions

14–15 cm. c. 20 g. Large black, white and grey tit . Male has forehead, crown and crown side (to below eye) and nape black, faintly glossed bluish in fresh plumage, small greyish-white patch on lower nape (sometimes absent), in Zimbabwe and N Mozambique nuchal patch typically more clearly defined (“parvirostris”); upperparts grey, longest uppertail-coverts tipped blackish; tail black, all feathers except central pair narrowly tipped pale grey, outer three pairs fringed pale grey, broadest on outer web of outermost; upper­wing-coverts black, medians and greaters fringed and broadly tipped white, alula and primary coverts black, finely fringed whitish; flight-feathers black, tertials fringed broadly whitish on outer edge and narrowly on inner edge, secondaries and primaries finely fringed whitish; cheek, ear-coverts and side of neck dull whitish to buffish; chin and throat (including side of throat) sooty black, black continuing as narrow line to centre of belly (may show occasional or irregular white tips on throat, upper breast and ventral line), side of lower breast and belly pale off-white, flanks greyish, undertail-coverts grey with whitish fringes; axillaries pale grey, underwing-coverts off-white; variation includes birds in Zambia with nuchal patch well defined, usually paler grey upperparts, white tips on median coverts broader, and underparts creamy-white with buffish-grey wash on breast side and flanks (“lundarum”); in worn plumage, crown and nape duller, upperparts slightly duller or browner, fringes of wing feathers abraded; iris brown to grey-brown or dark brown; bill black; legs greyish to black. Distinguished from very similar M. thruppi by larger size, lack of black on neck side (white on face meets that on side of neck); from M. cinerascens by smaller bill, duller cap, paler grey plumage, whiter underparts. Female is like male, but has slightly duller (less glossy) crown, and slightly less black and less extensive bib. Juvenile is as female, but outer tail feathers only narrowly fringed and without white at tips, wings dark sooty brown, edges of flight-feathers washed yellowish-buff, cheek duller or more buffish, bib duller sooty brown, ventral line usually absent.

Angola, S & SE DRCongo, and W Tanzania S to Zambia, Zimbabwe and NW Mozambique.

Almost entirely restricted to open and well-developed miombo (Brachystegia) woodland; occasionally in mavunda forest, and Uapaca and Isoberlinia woodlands. At 1220–1900 m in DRCongo, from 915 m (possibly as low as 400 m) to 1700 m in Malawi, and at 975–1950 m in Zambia; in Zimbabwe, above 915 m on C plateau and at 500–1600 m in E highlands.

Resident.

Diet rather poorly known; presumably includes small invertebrates and larvae. Usually forages in pairs or in small (possibly family) groups; often joins mixed-species foraging flocks, including those with M. cinerascens where ranges overlap. Forages mostly in upper level and canopy, among the bark and branches (including largest limbs) of living and dead trees. Co-exists with M. rufiventris in mature miombo woodland, although the two species apparently occupy different niches.

Most frequent call “chitji”, sometimes accompanied by loud “chip”, also a harsh or deep “chrrr-chrrr-chrrr-chrrr” often preceded by thin “si”, “sisi”, “tit” or “plit”, occasionally with more squeaky “tit-tieu”; rolling “swip-ji-ji-ji-ji” and chattering or scolding “tjou-tjou-tjou-tjou”, also a more prolonged and downslurred “tsirrrrrrr”; calls  are very similar to those of both M. cinerascens and M. afer. Song a typical parid series of whistled phrases, “toowee-toowee, toowee-teeyoo, toowee-teeyoo”, “tsi-trreeeoo-tweetoo” or “twee-too-you, twee-too-you”, repeated several times and often with introductory “trit”.

Season Aug–Dec. Nest a large, soft pad or cup of plant fibres, animal hair and feathers, placed in hole in tree, including old hole of woodpecker (Picidae) or barbet (Capitonidae), or in wall or fence post, or in termite hill, or in hole in ground or sloping bank, sometimes in drainpipe. Clutch 3–5 eggs, no information on incubation and nestling periods. Occasional brood host to Lesser Honeyguide (Indicator minor). Breeding success: 75% of nests in miombo woodland in Zimbabwe each fledged two young.

Not globally threatened. Common or locally common in much of range. In Tanzania local and sparsely distributed, and fairly common only around Mt Rungwe. Densities of 14 individuals/100 ha of miombo woodland in Zambia. Considered potentially vulnerable owing to its specific habitat requirements; appears to be replaced by M. cinerascens in areas where habitat destroyed and substituted by secondary scrub and thornbush.