Arcanatoridae – Dapple-throat & Allies
Arcanatoridae is a family of just three birds that includes the Dapple-throat.
They were formerly included in Promeropidae until recent DNA studies confirmed their status as related, but a separate family. They are sister to the sugarbirds, both are basal Passeroidea.
The dapple-throat or dappled mountain-robin Arcanator orostruthus is found in Mozambique and Tanzania; the spot-throat Modulatrix stictigula is found in northern Malawi and Tanzania; the grey-chested babbler Kakamega poliothorax, also known as the grey-chested illadopsis, is found in Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Uganda. Their natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. All three are threatened by habitat loss, although the later, being widespread, is less vulnerable.
They are:
Dapple-throat Arcanator orostruthus
Spot-throat Modulatrix stictigula
Grey-chested Kakamega (Grey-chested Babbler) Kakamega poliothorax
-
Dapple-throat Arcanator orostruthus
IUCN Species Status17 cm. Medium-sized, drab robin of forest. Olive-brown upper parts. Paler, lemon yellow, broadly spotted underparts. Slender bill has pale base. Rusty tinge on outer tail. -
Dapple-throat Arcanator orostruthus
IUCN Species Status17 cm. Medium-sized, drab robin of forest. Olive-brown upper parts. Paler, lemon yellow, broadly spotted underparts. Slender bill has pale base. Rusty tinge on outer tail. -
Dapple-throat Arcanator orostruthus
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map -
Dapple-throat Arcanator orostruthus
Species AccountThe dapple-throat or dappled mountain-robin (Arcanator orostruthus) is a species of bird in the Arcanatoridae family. It is found in Mozambique and Tanzania. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. -
Grey-chested Kakamega Kakamega poliothorax
IUCN Species StatusThe global population size has not been quantified, but the species is reported to be scarce to common (Fry and Keith 2004). -
Grey-chested Kakamega Kakamega poliothorax
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map -
Grey-chested Kakamega Kakamega poliothorax
Species AccountThe grey-chested babbler (Kakamega poliothorax), also known as the grey-chested illadopsis, is a species of bird in the Arcanatoridae family. It is the only species in its genus. It is found in Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Uganda. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. -
Spot-throat Modulatrix stictigula
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map -
Spot-throat Modulatrix stictigula
Species AccountThe spot-throat (Modulatrix stictigula) is a species of bird in the Arcanatoridae family. It is found in northern Malawi and Tanzania. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.