Blue-naped Mousebird

Urocolius macrourus

Mousebirds are their own ancient bird order, found only in Africa. This one has a sky-blue nape and hangs upside down to eat.

Population: Global population size not quantified by IUCN/BirdLife; described as widespread and common, with an overall decreasing trend (localized declines in Nigeria linked to fenthion pesticide spraying used against Quelea quelea roosts; suspected increases in Senegal)
Habitat: Dry savanna, semi-desert scrub, subtropical/tropical dry shrubland, riverine woodland/river valleys, grasslands, rural gardens and plantations; does not normally occur in forest; occurs 0-2,100 m elevation
Fun fact: Blue-naped Mousebirds have pamprodactylous feet -- all four toes can be rotated forward at will -- letting them scurry mouse-like along branches, the trait that gave the family its common name.
Range: Sub-Saharan Africa across roughly 23 countries in a broad Sahelian/savanna band from Senegal and The Gambia east to Somalia and south to Tanzania/Kenya/Uganda; non-migratory resident with an extremely large range (Extent of Occurrence ~14.7 million km²); seven recognized subspecies
Diet: Primarily fruit, plus leaves, flowers, and buds; favors plants such as Salvadora persica (berries), Balanites aegyptiaca, figs (Ficus), and dates
Size: 0.355 m
Lifespan: 11 years

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