Western Mountain Greenbul
Arizelocichla tephrolaema
A large, vocal greenbul of montane forest and forest edge, found only in the highlands of Bioko Island (Equatorial Guinea), Cameroon, and eastern Nigeria. Has an olive-green body, a more yellow-green belly, an ashy-gray head, dark reddish eyes surrounded by white partial eye-arcs, and a solid black bill. Calls include repetitive chatters, sometimes ending with “kekeKOWLP!”, and repeated “chup-chup-chupup” type notes.
Taxonomy
The western greenbul was originally described in the genus Trichophorus (a synonym for Criniger) and then classified in Andropadus before being re-classified to the new genus Arizelocichla in 2010. Alternatively, some authorities classify the Western greenbul in the genus Pycnonotus. Some authorities also consider the olive-breasted and Uluguru greenbul to be subspecies of the western greenbul. Alternate names for the western greenbul include the grey-throated bulbul, grey-throated greenbul, olive-breasted mountain greenbul and western mountain greenbul. The alternate name mountain greenbul should not be confused with the species of the same name, Arizelocichla nigriceps. The alternate name 'western mountain greenbul' is also used by the olive-breasted greenbul and the alternate name 'grey-throated bulbul' is also used by the Palawan bulbul.<p>Two subspecies are recognized:
- Scientific name
- Arizelocichla tephrolaema
- Authority
- (Gray, GR, 1862)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Pycnonotidae
- Genus
- Arizelocichla
Range and habitat
It is found on Bioko, in western Cameroon and adjacent Nigeria. Its natural habitats are boreal forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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