Modulatricidae – Spot-throat & Allies

Modulatricidae is a family of just three birds in three different genera.

They were formerly included in Promeropidae until recent DNA studies confirmed their status as related, but a separate family. Previously, some authorities included them in the Muscicapidae, Turdidae or Passeroidea.  Nowadays, they are thought to be sister to the sugarbirds, as 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.

Spot-throat Modulatrix stictigula – ©Dubi Shapiro

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.

For all three species, their natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. All three are threatened by habitat loss, although the later, being widespread, is least vulnerable. The other two species favour small. Isolated areas, meaning we know little about them and they are more threatened. The nest and eggs of only one of the three species has been described.

They all forage for insects on the ground, in dense undergrowth, and are more often heard than seen. In the case of the Dapple-throat, it favours leaf litter near streams, searching for invertebrates. Their whistled songs and calls has been compared to those of Old-World orioles.