White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata
AFEW Nature Sanctuary, Nairobi, Kenya

The beautiful White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata is related to old-world flycatchers and monotypic within the genus Pogonocichla. An African endemic found from eg Burundi and Democratic Republic of the Congo, east to Kenya, and south to Malawi, Mozambique, and South Africa, Sudan. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, and subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland. The global population size has not been quantified, but it is believed to be large as the species is described as ‘common’ in at least parts of its range (Keith et al. 1992). Global population trends have not been quantified, but the species is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List (i.e. declining more than 30% in ten years or three generations).

I usually see this quiet and inconspicuous bird in the woodland of Nairobi’s AFEW Nature Sanctuary, where it seems to spend much of its time sat in shade at about eye-level. Despite the rich colours it can be very hard to see, but - at least at Langata - is quite approachable once its been found.

All photographs © Charlie Moores