About Empidornis semipartitus (Rüppell, 1840)
This species, commonly called the silverbird, is an attractive flycatcher found in open areas west of the Rift Valley. Adult silverbirds have silvery grey plumage on their upperparts and tawny orange plumage on their underparts. Juveniles have black-bordered tawny spots on the upperparts, and mottled buff and black patterning on the throats and breasts. The species measures 18 cm (7.1 in) in length and weighs 22–23 g (0.78–0.81 oz). The silverbird's call consists of short phrases that are slightly similar to the calls of thrushes. Sometimes the final note of the call is higher and thinner, with common call phrases transcribed as eee-sleeur-eeee or sweet siursur-eet-seet. The silverbird also produces a longer call phrase transcribed as eep-eep churEErip, eep-eep cherip chch chchch eee, which is embellished with chattering and seep notes.
