EPOW - Ecology Picture of the Week

Striking Mousebird With the Blue Nape

Blue-naped Mousebird (Urocolius [Colius] macrourus), Family Coliidae
Lake Baringo, Kenya

Explanation:  In the arid acacia woodlands ringing Lake Baringo in the Rift Valley of southern Kenya lives this beautiful avian:  the aptly-named Blue-naped Mousebird.

In the main photo above, we can see the striking blue on the nape of its neck when it turns its head around.  

But why "mousebird?"  

That is the name of this family of birds, whose habit it is to scramble along the ground like the behavior of a mouse.  

 

 

Not at all threatened, Blue-naped Mousebirds are found in northern to east-central Africa.

Populations, however, seem to be declining, perhaps in relation to habitat disturbance by humans.

Consisting of some seven subspecies, Blue-naped Mousebirds
feed on fruits, leaves, buds, and flowers.

  

 

The appearance is unmistakable, with the tall head crest, red "goggles" around the eyes also with red irises, the red bill, and of course the blue nape!