Alternative names: Black Boubou, Somali Boubou
- Laniarius nigerrimus
Includes Bulo Burti Boubou
Identification
19 to 23 cm
- Glossy blue-black upperparts and tail
- White spots on the rump
- White underparts with buffy or pink tinge on the breast and flanks
- Black bill
- Dark reddish-brown eyes
- The wings have white markings
Distribution
Southern Somalia (lower Shabeelle and Jubba valleys)
Taxonomy
Split from Tropical Boubou (along with Zanzibar Boubou) following molecular analysis.[2]
This is a monotypic species[1].
Molecular sequence data indicate that Bulo Burti Boubou (identified from a single specimen and originally described as Laniarius liberatus) is a color variation of Coastal Boubou.[2]
Formerly named Laniarius erlangeri.
Habitat
Acacia thicket
Behaviour
Diet
The diet includes arthropods, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Nguembock B, Fjeldså J, Couloux A & Pasquet E. 2008. Phylogeny of Laniarius: molecular data reveal L. liberatus synonymous with L. erlangeri and "plumage coloration" as unreliable morphological characters for defining species and species groups. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 48, 396-407.
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Coastal Boubou. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 2 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Coastal_Boubou
