Batis

Batis is a genus of passerine birds in the wattle-eye family. Its species are resident in Africa south of the Sahara. They were previously classed as a subfamily of the Old World flycatcher family, Muscicapidae.

They are small stout insect-eating birds, usually found in open forests or bush. The nest is a small neat cup low in a tree or bush. They hunt by flycatching, or by taking prey from the ground like a shrike.

Batis species are strikingly patterned, typically with a grey crown, black eye mask, dark back, and paler underparts, often with a coloured or black breast band and white on the throat which contrasts strongly with the black eye stripe. Male and female plumages usually differ.

The song is typically a descending triple whistle.

Species in taxonomic order

 * Ruwenzori Batis, Batis diops
 * Margaret's Batis, Batis margaritae
 * Forest Batis, Batis mixta
 * Cape Batis, Batis capensis
 * Reichenow's Batis, Batis reichenowi
 * Dark Batis, Batis crypta
 * Woodward's Batis, Batis fratrum
 * Chinspot Batis, Batis molitor
 * Senegal Batis, Batis senegalensis
 * Grey-headed Batis, Batis orientalis
 * Pale Batis, Batis soror
 * Pririt Batis, Batis pririt
 * Eastern Black-headed Batis, Batis minor
 * Western Black-headed Batis, Batis erlangeri
 * Pygmy Batis, Batis perkeo
 * Angolan Batis, Batis minulla
 * Gabon Batis, Batis minima
 * Ituri Batis, Batis ituriensis
 * Fernando Po Batis, Batis poensis