Black-fronted Bulbul
Pycnonotus nigricans
A typical open-country African bulbul with a dark head and a conspicuous and diagnostic fleshy orange-red eye-ring. Pairs and small groups forage in riverine thickets in the Karoo and in arid thorny woodland and scrub, eating a variety of fruit and invertebrates. The species has a typical bubbly musical bulbul song, slower than that of the similar-sounding Common Bulbul. The juvenile Black-fronted Bulbul may be confused with the similar looking Common Bulbul, but it is often accompanied by adults with their diagnostic eye-rings.
Identification
The African red-eyed bulbul ranges from 19 to 21 centimeters (7-8 inches) in length and weighs 30-48 grams (1-1.7 ounces). Its call is a series of loud fluty notes, usually given only by the male.
Taxonomy
The African red-eyed bulbul was originally described in the genus Turdus. The African red-eyed bulbul is considered to belong to a superspecies along with the Himalayan bulbul, white-eared bulbul, white-spectacled bulbul, Cape bulbul, and the common bulbul. The alternate name of 'red-eyed bulbul' is also used by the Asian red-eyed bulbul.<p>Two subspecies are recognized:
- Scientific name
- Pycnonotus nigricans
- Authority
- (Vieillot, 1818)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Pycnonotidae
- Genus
- Pycnonotus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Nomadic movement
Conservation
- Population trend
- rising
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Red-gartered Coot
Fulica armillata
Fairly large, common, and widespread coot of lowlands. Found on fresh to brackish ponds and lakes; also at river mouths and locally on coastal waters. Feeds mainly while swimming, but also walks readily on shorelines. Bill pattern is diagnostic: pale yellow forehead shield is separated from brighter yellow bill by a broken dark red band. Also note the red “garters” on its legs, often hidden when swimming. Juvenile has extensively whitish head. Often occurs alongside White-winged and Red-fronted Coots.
Blackish Cinclodes
Cinclodes antarcticus
Rather local on seacoasts and remote islands south of Tierra del Fuego and on the Falklands. Favors rocky beaches and adjacent shoreline, especially with tussock grass clumps nearby (known as Tussacbird on the Falklands). Like other cinclodes, feeds on the ground, poking under seaweed, and can be very tame. No similar species in range: note dark sooty-brown plumage with only a ghosting of typical cinclodes face stripes and wing stripe. Some regional variation—bill has pale creamy patch at base on South American population and is all dark on birds in the Falklands.
Red-billed Woodcreeper
Hylexetastes perrotii
Large, stout-billed woodcreeper of tall rainforest in northeastern Amazonia. Plumage entirely rufous-brown with no barring or streaking; note thick reddish bill, white throat, and prominent white whisker mark (bill of young birds is dark brown). Found in tall rainforest as well as slightly lower-stature forests on sandy soils; generally less common than other large woodcreepers. Climbs along tree trunks and large branches at middle and upper levels, probing bark crevices for insects and small vertebrates; occasionally follows army ant swarms to capture animals fleeing up tree trunks. Heard more often than seen. Song, given mainly at dawn, is a far-carrying, hoarse whistle repeated 3–4 times, very unlike other woodcreepers. Amazonian Barred-Woodcreeper, which also has a reddish bill and suggestion of a pale whisker, may occur with Red-billed at ant swarms and be mistaken for it in dim understory light; note Red-billed’s stouter bill and plain face with obvious whisker streak.
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