Neumann's Warbler Hemitesia neumanni Scientific name definitions

10–11 cm; 11.3 g. Large-headed warbler with distinctive striped head pattern, very short tail. Broad supercilium is variably gray-brown, dull greenish or off-white in front of eye, becoming white behind eye to over ear-coverts; broad black stripe from base of bill running above supercilium on to nape side; crown to centre of nape grayish, fairly broad black eyestripe continuing to rear of ear-coverts; upperparts from side of nape backwards dull olive-green, flight-feathers and tail browner; chin to side of neck, throat and breast variably yellow (Uganda) or pale green (western Rwanda and western Burundi), becoming more olive-green on flanks, belly white, undertail-coverts yellow; iris dark brown; upper mandible brownish-black, lower mandible yellowish or pinkish; legs brown to pinkish-brown. Sexes alike. Juvenile undescribed.

Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, southwestern Uganda, western Rwanda and northwestern Burundi.

Ground layer and thick undergrowth of montane forest, mainly primary, transition and gallery forests, at 1,200–2,250 m in Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1,500–2,130 m in Uganda and up to 2,350 m in Rwanda. Frequently near streams, swamps, humid valley bottoms and swamp-forest, principally those with Mimulopsis, Alchornea and rubiaceous shrubs, occasionally in creepers.

Food largely unknown, but includes beetles (Coleoptera) and presumably other small invertebrates. Usually alone or in pairs; secretive and elusive (usually detected by song). Forages on ground or low down in undergrowth and amid leaf litter; when disturbed, remains almost motionless. Joins mixed-species feeding flocks.

Loud and explosive but brief song of inlinemedia, e.g., “tee-tiyoo-tee”, “tee-tyer-tyoo”, “tyoowi-tyee”, “tee-teeyoo-tyoowi” or “tay-tiyoo-tay”, intermixed with almost inaudible lisping notes (detectable only at close range), and repeated at regular intervals.

Poorly known. Birds in breeding condition in January, April–June and August–October. On basis of distances between singing males, territory presumed quite large, c. 10 ha. No other information.

Not globally threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Albertine Rift Mountains EBA. Rare to fairly common; fairly common between 1,630 m and 2,300 m in Bwindi-Impenetrable Forest National Park, in Uganda. Density in Nyungwe Forest, in western Rwanda, less than five pairs/km².