Photo: USFWS / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Dapple-throat
Arcanator orostruthus
Dapple-throat (Arcanator orostruthus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
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The Dapple-throat (Arcanator orostruthus) is a member of the Modulatricidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 32.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Modulatricidae Dapple-throat & Allies
- Genus Arcanator
- Species orostruthus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 32.7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Modulatricidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Dapple-throat is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Dapple-throat is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Dapple-throat (Arcanator orostruthus) is a member of the Modulatricidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Tanzania and Mozambique.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 32.7 g, with a wing length of about 8.5 cm and a tail of around 7 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 6,391 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Dapple-throat?
The Dapple-throat is a small bird that weighs around 32.7 g.
Where does the Dapple-throat live?
The Dapple-throat is found across Africa with a range covering AF Tanzania and Mozambique, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Dapple-throat belong to?
The Dapple-throat (Arcanator orostruthus) belongs to the Modulatricidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Dapple-throat eat?
The Dapple-throat is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Dapple-throat migrate?
The Dapple-throat is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Dapple-throat endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Dapple-throat make?
1 real field recording of the Dapple-throat — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Dapple-throat's range?
The Dapple-throat has a mapped global range of about 6,391 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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