Family Waxbills (Estrildidae)
Least Concern
Shelley's Oliveback (Nesocharis shelleyi)
Taxonomy
French: Dos-vert à tête noire German: Meisenastrild Spanish: Olivino carinegro
Taxonomy:
Nesocharis shelleyi
Alexander
, 1903,Moka, Bioko
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Subspecies and Distribution
N. s. bansoensis
Bannerman, 1923 – mountains of SE Nigeria (Obudu and Mambilla Plateaux, Ngel Nyaki, Gashaka Gumti) and W Cameroon (Bamenda Plateau S from Tchabal Mbabo to Mt Manengouba and Mt Kupe).
N. s. shelleyi
Alexander, 1903 – Mt Cameroon (SW Cameroon) and Bioko.
Descriptive notes
8 cm; 7–9 g. Male nominate has head and throat black, grey nape-collar, vertical white line behind ear-coverts; upperparts olive, tinged golden on rump, tail blackish;... read more
Voice
Contact calls high-pitched, thin, sharp or squeaky, low twittering while foraging; also short... read more
Habitat
Montane forest and cocoa plantations above 1200 m, in Cameroon mostly at 1550–2100 m; 50 m... read more
Food and feeding
Small insects and seeds. Active from undergrowth to canopy. Gleans branches and leaves; often hangs upside-down. Forages singly, in pairs... read more
Breeding
Season Jan in Nigeria and Dec–Mar in Cameroon. In display, male holds wisp of grass in bill, and hops along branch turning body from... read more
Movements
Resident. Possible altitudinal movements in Bioko.
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Restricted-range species: present in Cameroon Mountains EBA. Locally common to uncommon; easily overlooked, so perhaps commoner than... read more
Has sometimes been considered conspecific with N. ansorgei. Two subspecies recognized.