Coastal Boubou
Laniarius nigerrimus
Strangely variable boubou that can be all black, black above and white below with a small white wingbar, or black above and white below with a yellow eyebrow and a yellow wash on the throat and breast. Uses habitats with a dense understory, including thickets, riparian woodland, and coastal scrub. Usually found in pairs. Black-and-white birds very similar to Zanzibar Boubou, though birds with this coloration may be rare or absent in the western part of the range, where the two species overlap. All-black birds are quite similar to Slate-colored Boubou, but blacker, with different vocalizations. The typical song is a duet in which the male makes a ringing “ku-wee” while the female simultaneously makes a low “chrr” note. Identification of this recently split species is confusing.
Identification
The adult has glossy blue-black except for white spots on the rump, visible when the wings are spread and the rump feathers are erected. The underparts are white with a buffy or pinkish tinge on the breast and flanks. The bill is black; the eyes are dark reddish brown. The wings have white median coverts. The juvenile is similar but duller, with a greyish-brown bill, the upperparts mottled by yellowish-ochre to tawny feather tips, and dusky-barred flanks. The Somali boubou differs from tropical boubou in that it is smaller and has less white in the wing.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Laniarius nigerrimus
- Authority
- (Reichenow, 1879)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Malaconotidae
- Genus
- Laniarius
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
Large raptor. Appears dark from a distance. Up close, dark brown above with bare red head. In flight, undersides of wings are two-toned; lighter on the entire trailing edge of the wing, opposed to just wingtips on Black Vulture. Wings are held slightly raised when soaring, making a "V" when seen head-on. Tends to wobble in flight. Wingbeats slower and deeper than Black Vulture. Glides relatively low while sniffing for carrion, or riding thermals to higher vantage points. Also huddles around roadkill or dumpsters.
Nubian Woodpecker
Campethera nubica
Mid-sized green-backed woodpecker with intricate patterning. The crown is red in males, red and white-speckled black in females. Note the heavily streaked ear, bold spotting below, and plain white throat. Generally common and conspicuous in most types of savanna habitat. Usually in pairs, which give a loud duet of “keek” notes. Very similar to Bennett’s Woodpecker, but separated by the black-streaked ear. Also similar to Golden-tailed and Mombasa Woodpeckers, but easily separated by the spotted rather than striped underparts.
Swainson's Sparrow
Passer swainsonii
A drab sparrow of northeastern Africa. The head and underparts are gray, the wing and back are brown, and the rump is rufous. Generally common within its range in all habitats except closed-canopy forest. Fond of human habitation. Very similar to Northern Gray-headed Sparrow, but there is little overlap in range, and Swainson’s has darker underparts. Also very similar to Parrot-billed Sparrow, but slightly smaller and slimmer-billed, with paler underparts. The call is a ringing “churp.”
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