Fischer's Greenbul
Phyllastrephus fischeri
Typically dull olive-brown mid-sized greenbul with a long bill, white throat, and reddish tail. Has a whitish eye, and usually shows pale crescents above and below the eye. Found in the thick undergrowth of forest and lush woodland at low elevations. Usually in small groups. The calls are low, gravelly “chrrr” notes, delivered in quick sequence, often by a whole group together. Somewhat similar to Gray-olive Greenbul, but larger, with a darker bill and legs. Similar to brownbuls, but separated by the pale eye and more olive-green coloration on the back.
Taxonomy
Fischer's greenbul was originally described in the genus Criniger. Formerly, some authorities have considered it as a subspecies of Sharpe's greenbul and some have also considered Cabanis's greenbul and the placid greenbul to be subspecies of Fischer's greenbul.The common name and scientific name commemorate the German explorer Gustav Fischer. Alternate names for Fischer's greenbul include the East Coast olive greenbul and Fischer's bulbul.
- Scientific name
- Phyllastrephus fischeri
- Authority
- (Reichenow, 1879)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Pycnonotidae
- Genus
- Phyllastrephus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Short-tailed Babbler
Pellorneum malaccense
Long-legged babbler with an almost nonexistent stump for a tail, found in primary and secondary evergreen lowland and foothill forest. Warm brown overall with paler underparts and a gray face with slightly moustached appearance. Upright stance and general profile make it seem almost pitta-like. Forages on or very close to the ground. Not as social as other forest babblers: typically encountered singly or in pairs. Calls are often dry and insect-like or mechanical. Song comprises a beginning phrase of dry chattering notes and a series of around half a dozen descending whistles.
Black-collared Apalis
Oreolais pulcher
A slim, pretty, long-tailed member of the cisticola family with gray upperparts and mostly white underparts, a black chest band, and rufous flanks. Found in the understory and along the edges of montane forest. Usually in pairs or small groups, readily joining mixed flocks. Not known to overlap in range with Rwenzori Apalis, and differs by having a white rather than buffy throat, and white in the outer tail. Has a black chest band like Black-capped Apalis, but separated by many details, including the gray back and rufous flanks. Vocalizations include a ringing “svink” and a lower “veet” which are often given in duet by a pair.
Cape Robin-Chat
Dessonornis caffer
Pretty robin-chat with a short white eyebrow and a rufous chest. This is the only robin-chat with a gray belly. The outer tail feathers are orange, which can be conspicuous in flight. Found in many different habitats, including fynbos, scrub, heath, gardens, forest edge, and thicket. More fond of open habitats than other robin-chats. Away from South Africa, only found in the mountains. Song is a typical thrush-like series of inquisitive, cheerful notes.
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