Chinspot Batis (Batis molitor)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Chinspot Batis

Batis molitor (Küster, 1836)

12–13 cmLength12 gWeight

The chinspot batis (Batis molitor) is a small songbird of the genus Batis in the family Platysteiridae which is a common and widespread species in the woodlands of southern Africa from the Eastern Cape north to 3°N in southern Kenya and Gabon.

Busiest months: July and October–November · Most records: South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Chinspot Batis has been recorded at 325 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 17 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Nairobi NPKenya768 records
  2. Kruger NP – Skukuza CampSouth Africa666 records
  3. Mkhuze GRSouth Africa569 records
More places
  1. Kruger NP – Satara CampSouth Africa567 records
  2. Lake Nakuru NPKenya349 records
  3. Bwindi-Impenetrable NP – RuhijaUganda332 records
  4. Arusha NPTanzania329 records
  5. Lake Mburo NPUganda310 records
  6. Kruger NP – Lower Sabie Rest CampSouth Africa304 records
  7. Karura ForestKenya261 records

Countries and regions with the most records

South AfricaKenyaTanzaniaUgandaZambiaZimbabweBotswanaMalawi

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The chinspot batis (Batis molitor) is a small songbird of the genus Batis in the family Platysteiridae which is a common and widespread species in the woodlands of southern Africa from the Eastern Cape north to 3°N in southern Kenya and Gabon. It forms a superspecies with other rather similar members of the genus Batis.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Chinspot Batis?

The Chinspot Batis is about 12–13 cm long and weighs around 12 g.

Where does the Chinspot Batis live?

Its breeding range: Africa: central, southern. It is most often recorded in South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania.

When is the best time to see the Chinspot Batis?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in July, October and November (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Chinspot Batis endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Chinspot Batis as Least Concern.

What does the Chinspot Batis eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Chinspot Batis in?

It belongs to the family Wattle-eyes, Batises (Platysteiridae), order Passerines (Passeriformes).

At a glance

Length
12–13 cm
Weight
12 g
Habitat
Woodland
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
60 mm
Tail
43 mm
Bill
15 mm
Tarsus
18 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Africa: central, southern

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Family
Wattle-eyes, Batises Platysteiridae
Genus
Batis

Other birds in the genus Batis

Chinspot Batis

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from reference photos. ↗

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