Mousebirds

Mousebirds, belonging to the order Coliiformes, are unique to sub-Saharan Africa and characterized as "living fossils," as the current six species are remnants of a once widespread lineage that also existed in Europe and North America during the Paleocene. With soft, hairlike feathers, these slender, greyish or brown birds measure about 10 cm in body length, plus a long tail of 20–24 cm, and weigh between 45–55 g. They're named for their rodent-like behavior as they scurry through the leaves searching for berries, fruit, and buds. Mousebirds are acrobatic, feeding even upside down, and possess strong claws and reversible outer toes suited for arboreal life. They exhibit social behavior, living in groups of around 20 and building cup-shaped twig nests lined with grass where they lay clutches of two to three eggs. Their extensive fossil record has contributed to our understanding of their evolution, but constructing a precise phylogeny has been challenging, with the order previously encompassing a more diverse array of taxa including the now separate sandcoleids. The current family, Coliidae, is home to species such as the Urocolius, including the Red-faced and Blue-naped mousebird, as well as the genus Colius with birds like the Red-backed, White-backed, White-headed, and Speckled mousebird.