White-bellied Noisy Bird

White-bellied Noisy Bird

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The white-bellied babbler(Corythaixoides leucogaster) is a common member of the turaco family (Musophagidae) in East Africa. It is found in Somalia, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
The white-bellied noisemaker reaches a body length of up to 50 cm. Its tail feathers can grow up to 25 cm long. Overall, it is a grey-coloured bird with a white underside and black wing and tail tips. The most striking feature is the up to 6 cm long, dark grey head crest, which is raised when the bird is excited. The white-bellied noisy bird owes its German and English name "go-away-bird" to its shrill warning call, which actually sounds like the English "go away". This also serves as a warning call against predators for many other animals in its habitat.
The white-bellied babbler's habitat is very warm steppes and savannahs with scattered trees. There it feeds exclusively on the fruits, flowers, seeds and buds of various acacia species.
The breeding season is between February and August. The nest consists mainly of twigs and is built at a height of 3 m to 12 m in an acacia tree. The female lays either 2 or 3 shimmering blue eggs, which are incubated by both parents for around 28 days. The young leave the nest after about 12 days and are able to fly and forage independently after about 30 days.
Due to its large distribution area and the low human impact on its habitat, the population of the white-bellied noisy bird is not endangered. It is even very common in some areas and is an integral part of the fauna in East Africa.