Pale-breasted Illadopsis Illadopsis rufipennis Scientific name definitions

The Pale-breasted Illadopsis is the geographically most widespread of its genus, occurring from Sierra Leone in the extreme west to northeast Tanzania in far east, although the species’ distribution is apparently somewhat discontinuous. Like other Illadopsis, Pale-breasted Illadopsis is a primarily forest-based species, including secondary and logged areas, and sometimes plantations and farmbush, but it always favors the understory of very dense vegetation, where it sometimes follows army ants. It lives in pairs or small parties of up to seven individuals, foraging on branches, trunks, among lianas, and regularly on the ground, and there is some evidence that the species is a co-operative breeder.

With its generally nondescript plumage, the Pale-breasted Illadopsis's most conspicuous feature is its bright-white chin and throat (which can be puffed-out in alarm or inquisitiveness). It can be difficult to distinguish from almost any one of its congenerics, especially as their voices can also sound similar; and historically, even specimens were quite routinely misidentified. Two subspecies are herein recognized, as the formerly conspecific Tanzanian Illadopsis (Illadopsis distans) is now considered to be a species in its own right. Despite this, Pale-breasted Illadopsis may warrant further splitting, and further work is needed to clarify these relationships.