Silverbird (Empidornis semipartitus)
About the Silverbird
The silverbird (Empidornis semipartitus) is an Old World flycatcher native to Eastern Africa, from Sudan to Tanzania. The species is the only member of the genus Empidornis, although it is sometimes placed in the genus Melaenornis. The silverbird is a stunning flycatcher of open areas west of the Rift Valley, silvery grey above and tawny orange below. Juveniles have black-bordered tawny spots on upperparts, mottled buff and black on throats and breasts. The species is 18 cm (7.1 in) long and weighs 22–23 g (0.78–0.81 oz). The call of the silverbird uses short phrases which are slightly thrush-like. Sometimes the terminal note is higher and thinner, eee-sleeur-eeee or sweet siursur-eet-seet; also a longer eep-eep churEErip, eep-eep cherip chch chchch eee, embellished with chattering and seep notes.
No audio on this page yet
We only publish recordings we may use commercially, because this site is supported by ads. xeno-canto lists 7 recordings for this species: 3 CC BY-NC-SA. None of them permits commercial use, so there is no player here — the page is kept as a profile so the bird is not missing from the guide.
As soon as someone uploads a freely licensed recording, we mirror it and the player appears here.
Listed as recorded in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda in the xeno-canto catalogue.
Other birds you can hear here
- Abyssinian ThrushTurdus abyssinicusrecording
- African BroadbillSmithornis capensisrecording
- African GoshawkAccipiter tachirorecording
- African Hill BabblerSylvia abyssinicarecording
- African Pied WagtailMotacilla aguimprecording
- African Wood OwlStrix woodfordiirecording
These are the birds recorded alongside it, not close relatives — the site holds no other member of its genus or family yet.