The speckled mousebird (Colius striatus) is the largest species of mousebird, as well as one of the most common. The bird is named due to its habit of scurrying through the undergrowth, though it is also a dull-mousy brown in overall colour on the back and on the head (including a prominent crest). The bill is black on the upper part and is a pinkish colour on the lower part. It is about 35 cm long, with the tail comprising approximately half the length. This is an African species with a range across South Africa, Ethiopia and Cameroon, where it can adapt to just about any environment, and can only not be found in rainforests. They These build relatively large nests, which are produced by both the male and female. The nest is produced from any materials which the birds can find, which will include man made waste products such as paper and plastic, which leads to a generally very scruffy looking nest.
