Dusky Tit

About the Dusky Tit

The dusky tit (Melaniparus funereus) is a species of bird in the tit family Paridae. It is native to the African tropical rainforest. The dusky tit was formerly one of the many species placed in the genus Parus. It was moved to the resurrected genus Melaniparus based on a molecular phylogenetic analysis published in 2013.

This bird has an unknown population size in the middle of Africa. The dusky tit is known for being almost entirely black with brownish or gray tones, depending on its sex. It is a relatively minor bird to a medium-sized bird; it may range from 13 to 15 cm depending on the sex. It is characterized by red eyes and a chirp that sounds like "dree di-di-di".

The males are mostly black, and the only distinct color resides in the eyes. The eyes will almost always be primarily red, but can vary from red to orange-red. Another key feature is its bill, which is smaller and thus easier to identify. In general, the male is the dominant sex. Therefore, its length will vary more towards the 14-15 cm mark.

The female has similar characteristics as the male; however, the upper body parts are more blackish-gray. Their tail is fringed gray and brown; however,... Wikipedia →