Blue-necked Mousebird
Blue-naped Mousebird
Urocolius macrourus
Mousebirds are very skilled climbers that can even hang upside down from branches. This is made possible by their reversible toes; both the first and fourth toes can be turned forward or backward. Also striking are the bright blue patch on their nape and their distinctive crest. They are very social, living in groups of up to 20 birds and even nesting together.
| Order | Mousebirds |
| Family | Mousebirds |
| Distribution | south of the Sahara, from Senegal in the west to Somalia in the east, and from there southward to Tanzania |
| Habitat |  |
| Food |  |
| Activity |  |
| Weight | up to 80 grams |
| Size | up to 34 cm (more than half of which is accounted for by the long tail feathers) |
| Service life | up to 10 years old (Zoo: up to 12 years old) |
| Reproduction | The bowl-shaped nest is rather simple; the female lays 2–4 eggs, and the chicks hatch after an incubation period of about 2 weeks. Even after they fledge, the parents continue to care for them for some time. |
| Risk |  |
| Enemies | Snakes, Predators |
Herberstein Wildlife Park
Steirischer Landestiergarten GmbH
A 8223 Stubenberg am See
Buchberg 50
Phone: +43 3176 80777
Fax: +43 3176 80777 20
Email: info (at) tierwelt-herberstein. at
