From Opus

Photo by Max Holdt.
Photo taken: Windhoek, Namibia.

Alternative Name: African Red-eyed Bulbul.

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.

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 savanna, 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

[edit] External Links