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Yellow-bellied Hyliota | Hyliota flavigaster

The Yellow-bellied Hyliota is a Southern African bird that belongs to the Sylviidae bird family group which includes birds such as Leaf-Warblers, Babblers, Warblers.

The description for the Yellow-bellied Hyliota (Latin name Hyliota flavigaster) can be found in the 7th Edition of the Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. The Hyliota flavigaster can be quickly identified by its unique Roberts identification number of 623 and the detailed description of this bird is on page 808. You will find a picture of the Yellow-bellied Hyliota on page 848.

NOTE: The reference for the information following is "Roberts Birds of Southern Africa", 7th Edition*. This edition contained a number of taxonomic changes as well as changes to English names used traditionally and in earlier editions of most bird books in South Africa. The following paragraph notes such changes if any.

This bird is known as Yellow-breasted Hyliota in the Roberts 6th Edition. There have been no changes in the Latin name for the Yellow-bellied Hyliota between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition

The Yellow-bellied Hyliota has a height of 13 cms and weighs around 12 gms. The head is coloured blue, grey while the bill is coloured black. The Hyliota flavigaster has a white coloured throat, blue, grey legs and a blue, grey coloured back. The eyes are brown.

The male Hyliota flavigaster has physical features that are slightly different from the female bird.

Take note of the main distinguishing features such as colour, size and leg length relative to the body size. Colours of body parts can be helpful. Be aware what may appear brown to one person is described in Roberts using some other word ... for example brown, black. See colours used in Roberts.

Head is blue, grey

Eyes are brown

Bill is black

Legs are blue, grey

Throat is white

Back is blue, grey

Feeding Habits ...

The Yellow-bellied Hyliota is usually seen hunting for food within the tree foliage

The Hyliota flavigaster attacks its prey aerially and feeds on wing or takes the prey to a secluded venue where it is killed, torn into small pieces and eaten

This bird eats insects such as butterflies, bees, wasps, locusts and ants. These invertebrates are usually hawked aerially, killed and then eaten .

The Hyliota flavigaster forages mainly on the ground or at the base of trees, and low down in the shrubs eating mostly fruits and seeds.

Breeding, Habitat and Nesting Habits ...

The Yellow-bellied Hyliota is mainly found in light and densely wooded forests, where there are Mopane trees.

Seen in Flocks, Singles or Pairs Normally ...

The Yellow-bellied Hyliota is mainly seen singly or in pairs in the wild.

This bird is usually seen in small family groups or in large flocks

The reference for the information following is "Roberts Birds of Southern Africa", 7th Edition * edited by PAR Hockey, WRJ Dean and PG Ryan, published by "The Trustees of the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund."