ABSTRACT
The Speckled Mousebird forms part of a species-group with the broadly sympatric White-headed Mousebird, which is a less common, drier country species. With the exception of most of the Congo basin forest, widely distributed from Nigeria, the Central African Republic, S Sudan, Ethiopia and S Somalia, to 10°S. Further S, it is confined to the E of the continent, S to E South Africa and the Cape. The Blue-naped Mousebird is considered resident, but local movements occur, for example, appearance in Nairobi NP 75B during dry weather and annual Apr-May and Nov-Jan influxes to the Ruaraka-Kahawa-Ruiru area of 75B. Although the Speckled Mousebird is generally considered resident, movements apparently occur, at least in dry country. Although at Quarter-square-degree scale it appears widely sympatric with the Speckled Mousebird, in reality these two are ecologically allopatric, with the Speckled frequenting decidedly lusher and moister vegetation.
