From Opus

Alternative Name: African Red-eyed Bulbul.

Photo by Max Holdt
Windhoek, Namibia, July 2005

Pycnonotus nigricans

[edit] Identification

Length 19-22 cm, mass 31 g. Dark, slightly crested head, black bill, prominent red eyering. Brown back and tail, yellow vent, light brown breast shading downwards to white belly.

[edit] Similar Species

Distinguished by the red eyering from the two other similar southern African bulbuls (Dark-capped and Cape).

[edit] Distribution

The Black-fronted Bulbul favours drier areas, and is thus endemic to south-western Africa, including Namibia, Botswana, west and central South Africa, south-western Angola, western Zimbabwe and extreme southern Zambia.

[edit] Taxonomy

Pycnonotus nigricans has two subspecies:

• P. n. nigricans is the western race (western South Africa, Namibia, most of Botswana, south-western Angola, western Zimbabwe and extreme southern Zambia); and
• P. n. superior which is larger than the nominate race, is darker above and the dark brown of the throat extends further down the breast (central South Africa and south-eastern Botswana).

[edit] Habitat

Dry savannah, riverine woodland, and gardens.

[edit] Behaviour

Noisy and lively like other bulbuls. Will join bird parties, very alert, and responds noisily to any perceived threat such as a mongoose or a snake.

[edit] Diet

Feeds on fruit, insects, pollen and nectar.

[edit] References

Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ & Ryan PG (eds) 2005. Robert's Birds of Southern Africa, 7th edition. John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, South Africa. ISBN 0620340533

• List of references

[edit] External Links