Carnivores   Pachydermata   Ongulates   Reptiles   Primates, rodents and others   Birds    Birds of prey    Terrestrial birds    Waders and water birds

Back to Birds

Blue-naped Mousebird

distribution of blue-naped mousebird
Names, conservation status and distribution
blue-naped mousebird, coliou huppé, pajaro raton nuquiazul, birds of kenya, wildlife of kenya
Nairobi National Park
blue-naped mousebird, coliou huppé, pajaro raton nuquiazul, birds of kenya, wildlife of kenya
Nairobi National Park

blue-naped mousebird, coliou huppé, pajaro raton nuquiazul, birds of kenya, wildlife of kenya
Nairobi National Park
blue-naped mousebird, coliou huppé, pajaro raton nuquiazul, birds of kenya, wildlife of kenya
Samburu National Reserve
blue-naped mousebird, coliou huppé, pajaro raton nuquiazul, birds of kenya, wildlife of kenya
Nairobi National Park

Mousebirds are so named because their movements through bushes and along branches resemble those of small rodents. This species' alternate common name is the "blue-naped coly", which comes from its former scientific name, Colius macrourus.

 

Characteristic of mousebirds, the blue-naped mousebird has widely spaced and large feet for its body size, which are pamprodactylous; they are able to rotate all four toes to face forward at will. Their toes are strong and dextrous, allowing the birds to climb and scurry along branches, to hang by a toenail, or to use one foot to hold food.