Brubru
Nilaus afer
A small, mostly black-and-white bushshrike with a pale wing stripe and a checkered back. In most races a strong chestnut stripe runs from the shoulders to the flanks, but in some races it is absent. Females are less boldly marked than males. Pairs frequently join mixed-species flocks in arid savanna and broadleaf woodland, where they acrobatically glean for invertebrates. The species’ distinctive main call is remarkably telephone-like, a ringing burry “preeeeee” with some associated clicks and whistles.
Identification
The brubru is a small passerine, 12–15 cm long. The adult male of the nominate subspecies, N. a. afer, has a black crown, white supercilium and forehead, and black eyestripe. The back is black with a tawny strip, the rump is mottled black, and the tail is black with white tips and edges to the outer feathers. The wings are black with a buff shoulder stripe. The underparts are white with rufous flanks.<p>The female is duller and browner, with some streaking on the underparts and less rufous on the flanks. The juvenile is mottled brown, buff and white above, with buff edgings to the wing and tail feathers. Its underparts are whitish with brown barring.<p>The male of the most distinctive of the other subspecies, N. a. nigritemporalis, occurring in the central belt across Africa, has no supercilium and a white, not buff, shoulder patch. Other subspecies differ in the extent of the supercilium and rufous flanks, and the shade and degree of streaking of the underparts.<p>The song is a duet. The male gives a soft prrrrruuu call, often answered by the female's eeeu.
Taxonomy
Genus: Nilaus; Family: Malaconotidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Nilaus afer
- Authority
- (Latham, 1801)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Malaconotidae
- Genus
- Nilaus
Range and habitat
Its habitat is dry open woodland, but varies geographically. The six northern races and the subspecies N. a. Brubru of southern Africa are found in acacia and broadleaved woodland, whereas the three subspecies in a belt from northeastern Angola and northern Namibia east to Tanzania and northern Mozambique occur in Brachystegia miombo woodland.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Black-goggled Tanager
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Restless tanager found in the undergrowth of forests and second growth; usually accompanies mixed-species flocks. Males have a black mask and a yellow crown stripe. Males also have an olive-gray head and back and are buff below with dark wings and tail. Females lack the yellow crown and mask and are generally more cinnamon below.
Indochinese Barbet
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Loud but sluggish and difficult-to-see canopy inhabitant of the Annamite highlands in western Vietnam, eastern Laos, and far eastern Cambodia. Green with an electric-blue face, pale yellow crown and throat, and thick black eyebrows. Also note heavy dark bill with long bristles at the base. More often heard than seen; listen for its long, unending series of hollow-sounding notes. Like many other barbets, it can be difficult to locate when singing; more readily seen at fruiting trees. Formerly considered a subspecies of Black-browed Barbet.
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