red face; otherwise brownish all over (South Africa; 2007-07-10)


Red-faced Mousebird
Urocolius indicus

Native Range: Africa

Notes: true to its name, a mousebird with a red face; like its cousins, this fruit-eater likes to take spread-eagled sunbaths, tummy exposed, on cold mornings; called a mousebird because of the way it clambers about bushes like a mouse.


characteristic posture while sunbathing; long tail (South Africa; 2007-07-10)

pair; no sexual dimorphism (South Africa; 2007-07-10)

fluffy hair-like feathers, especially on underside (South Africa; 2007-07-10)

still warming up in the sun (South Africa; 2007-07-10)