Cameroon Mountain Greenbul
Arizelocichla montana
A medium-sized greenbul of the mountains of Cameroon and southeastern Nigeria. Remarkably uniform yellow-olive in plumage, with a red eye. Found in montane forest, secondary habitat, and scrub. Feeds in the understory and at middle levels of the forest. Somewhat similar to Western Mountain Greenbul, but easily separated by the lack of a gray head and contrasting white eye crescents. Might be confused with Cameroon Olive-Greenbul, but separated by brighter coloration overall and an olive-green rather than reddish-brown tail. The song is a chirpy series of nasal notes that ends with an accelerating flourish.
Taxonomy
The Cameroon greenbul was originally described in the genus Andropadus and, was re-classified to the new genus Arizelocichla in 2010. Alternatively, some authorities classify the Cameroon greenbul in the genus Pycnonotus. Alternate names for the Cameroon greenbul include Cameroon little greenbul, Cameroon montane greenbul, Cameroon mountain greenbul, montane greenbul and mountain little greenbul. The alternate names mountain bulbul and mountain greenbul should not be confused with the species of the same name (Ixos mcclellandii and Arizelocichla nigriceps respectively). The name 'Cameroon greenbul' is sometimes used as an alternate name for the Slender-billed greenbul.
- Scientific name
- Arizelocichla montana
- Authority
- (Reichenow, 1892)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Pycnonotidae
- Genus
- Arizelocichla
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Vertical migration
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Malaysian Eared-Nightjar
Lyncornis temminckii
Medium-sized nightjar with a long-necked and short-headed profile; namesake “ears'' are often difficult to see. Note dark face, thin off-white collar, and white slashes on the throat (most visible in flight). Unlike many other nightjars, often perches quite erect on branches. Very similar to Great Eared-Nightjar, with which it overlaps incrementally in northern Malaysia; in good lighting, note Malaysian’s less contrasting crown and overall darker coloration. Gives a ringing “wit-peew-ow!” in flight. Flies over a range of habitats, from lowland rainforests to open scrub forest and farmland.
Sombre Hummingbird
Eupetomena cirrochloris
A quite drab hummingbird with a slightly curved bill. Frequently encountered at the forest edge, in light woodlands, grasslands, and plantations. Also visits feeders and gardens. Quite pallid overall with a greenish back and uniformly gray below. The white spot behind the eye is a useful field mark. Both sexes are similar.
Pale-breasted Illadopsis
Illadopsis rufipennis
A chunky, mid-sized, remarkably drab babbler with a white throat and brownish breast. Found in the understory of rainforest at low and middle elevations, usually in small groups. Shy and skulking; rarely seen unless searched for. Very similar to Brown Illadopsis, but slightly different vocally, with higher and more inflected whistles. Also slightly paler below and more richly colored above, with a cleaner white throat. Most often detected by voice. The highly variable song consists of single-note pure whistles or short whistled phrases separated by pauses, often in a three-note ascending series; listen for a haunting clear monotone whistle. Also gives scolding calls, sometimes accompanying the whistled song.
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