At first glance, it is hard to believe that this is a close relative of our European Great tit... But the Dusky tit is indeed a tit, even though in 2013, after DNA studies, it was moved from the genus Parus (where the Great tit is found), to the revived genus Melaniparus. The studies showed that the African tits constitute a separate subgroup. The bird is 14-15 cm long (i.e. slightly larger than the Great tit) and is characterized by its dark plumage and red eyes. Both sexes have slate-like patterns in their plumage, but the male is mainly black, while the female is more dark gray. The species is found in rainforests in central and western Africa, often around clearings or along forest edges, where it moves in the treetops.