Bird 195 – Speckled Mousebird

As we continue our march to 200, we come to a bird who aspired to be a rodent, the Speckled Mousebird (Colius striaus).

Now Mousebirds (Micebirds??) are so named because they resemble mice. They are fluffy and grey, have long tails and tend to scurry about in branches and on the ground. So, at first glance they can look a little vermin-esque. But these are birds, so don’t insult them.

Mousebirds belong to an ancient avian linage; in the distant past they were widely spread, but today there are only six species left that live in Africa, with the Speckled Mousebird being one of the more common. They are gregarious fellows that pal around in little troops of about 20 birds. They’re not always welcomed in orchids and gardens, where they make a nonsense of themselves stealing fruit and whatnot. But they do have a delightful habit of hanging upside down after a good feed.

There’s actually a good reason for these antics. Unlike many other birds, Mousebirds eat leaves and other cellulose rich foods. This sort of plant matter is difficult to digest. Animals like sheep and cows pull it off with large, complex stomachs and special gut bacteria. But birds like to keep their weight down, so they don’t have space for cumbersome internal plumbing. The Speckled Mousebird has found a neat workaround, though. Although it’s difficult to see, the skin on their belly is black. After they’re done eating, they present their stomachs to the sky and have a lazy old sunbathe. Their dark skin absorbs the heat, warming their insides, which in turn encourages their gut bacteria to break down the plant matter more efficiently. For Mousebirds, an afternoon siesta is a vital part of any meal: it’s the only way they can get their digestive juices flowing. 

I feel like they’ve really got life worked out.

Not only is it a clever little quirk of evolution, but in my opinion, it makes them look rather adorable, albeit silly. 

   27/06/2021