Usambara Akalat
Sheppardia montana
Usambara Akalat (Sheppardia montana) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Usambara Akalat (Sheppardia montana) is a member of the Muscicapidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 21.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Muscicapidae Chats, Old World Flycatchers
- Genus Sheppardia
- Species montana
Quick facts
- Weight
- 21.8 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Usambara Akalat is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Usambara Akalat is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Usambara Akalat (Sheppardia montana) is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF ne Tanzania (w Usambara Mts).
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 21.8 g, with a wing length of about 7.4 cm and a tail of around 5.5 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 930 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Usambara Akalat?
The Usambara Akalat is a small bird that weighs around 21.8 g.
Where does the Usambara Akalat live?
The Usambara Akalat is found across Africa with a range covering AF ne Tanzania (w Usambara Mts), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Usambara Akalat belong to?
The Usambara Akalat (Sheppardia montana) belongs to the Muscicapidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Usambara Akalat eat?
The Usambara Akalat is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Usambara Akalat migrate?
The Usambara Akalat is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Usambara Akalat endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Usambara Akalat make?
1 real field recording of the Usambara Akalat — 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 Usambara Akalat's range?
The Usambara Akalat has a mapped global range of about 930 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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Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Meet the Muscicapidae
A field guide to the Muscicapidae family — 355 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.