Dapple-throat and allies | Modulatricidae

Vlekkeeltjes | Modulatrícidos

One of Africa's least-known bird families, with three species in three genera. Once treated as babblers or thrushes, they were shown by molecular study to form their own family, related to the African sugarbirds. Only the Dapple-throat (Arcanator orostruthus) occurs in this region. It is a stocky, thrush-like bird, olive-brown above, with the throat and breast dappled yellow and dusky. Like all members of the family it is confined to isolated montane forests, 'sky islands' separated by lowland: a few Eastern Arc ranges in Tanzania and Mount Namuli in northern Mozambique. It skulks on or just above the forest floor, searching leaf litter, moss and low tangles for insects and other invertebrates. Its breeding biology and vocal repertoire are poorly documented. Its small, fragmented range and continuing forest loss make it Vulnerable.