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Difference between revisions of "Brubru" - BirdForum Opus

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[[Image:Brubru.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Subspecies ''brubru''<br /> Photo by {{user|albertvoigts|albertvoigts}} <br />Spitzkoppe, [[Namibia]], 2006]]
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[[Image:STH 3787.JPG|thumb|550px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|volker+sthamer|volker sthamer}} <br />Mkomazi, [[Tanzania]], September 2017]]
 
;[[:Category:Nilaus|Nilaus]] afer
 
;[[:Category:Nilaus|Nilaus]] afer
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
−
12–15 cm<br />
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[[Image:Brubru.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''brubru''<br /> Photo &copy; by {{user|albertvoigts|albertvoigts}} <br />Spitzkoppe, [[Namibia]], 2006]]
 +
12–15 cm (4¾-6 in)<br />
 
'''Male'''
 
'''Male'''
 
*Mantle and central back rufous to buff, but see "Variation" below
 
*Mantle and central back rufous to buff, but see "Variation" below
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*Black crown
 
*Black crown
 
*White [[Topography#Heads|supercilium]] and forehead
 
*White [[Topography#Heads|supercilium]] and forehead
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[[Image:Brubru f - langano.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile, subspecies ''afer''<br />Photo by {{user|volker+sthamer|volker sthamer}}<br />Langano, [[Ethiopia]], November 2011]]
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[[Image:Brubru f - langano.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile, subspecies ''afer''<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|volker+sthamer|volker sthamer}}<br />Langano, [[Ethiopia]], November 2011]]
 
*Black eyestripe
 
*Black eyestripe
 
*Black wings with
 
*Black wings with
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==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
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[[Image:29749Brubru.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''solivagus''<br />Photo by {{user|safariranger|safariranger}}<br />Shingwedzi Camp, [[Kruger National Park]], [[South Africa]], November 2006]]
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[[Image:29749Brubru.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''solivagus''<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|safariranger|safariranger}}<br />Shingwedzi Camp, [[Kruger National Park]], [[South Africa]], November 2006]]
 
Widespread in sub-saharan [[Africa]]<br />
 
Widespread in sub-saharan [[Africa]]<br />
−
'''Western Africa''': [[Mauritania]], [[Senegambia]], [[Senegal]], [[The Gambia]], [[Guinea-Bissau]], [[Guinea]], [[Mali]], [[Sierra Leone]], [[Ivory Coast]], [[Burkina Faso]], [[Ghana]], [[Togo]], [[Benin]], [[Nigeria]], [[Niger]], [[Chad]], [[Cameroon]], [[Central African Republic]], [[Equatorial Guinea]], [[Gabon]], [[DRC]] and [[Angola]]<br />
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'''Western Africa''': [[Mauritania]], [[Senegal]], [[The Gambia]], [[Guinea-Bissau]], [[Guinea]], [[Mali]], [[Sierra Leone]], [[Ivory Coast]], [[Burkina Faso]], [[Ghana]], [[Togo]], [[Benin]], [[Nigeria]], [[Niger]], [[Chad]], [[Cameroon]], [[Central African Republic]], [[Equatorial Guinea]], [[Gabon]], [[DRC]] and [[Angola]]<br />
−
'''Eastern Africa''': [[Sudan]], [[Eritrea]], [[Ethiopia]], [[Somalia]], [[Kenya]], [[Uganda]], [[Rwanda]], [[Burundi]], [[Tanzania]], [[Zambia]], [[Mozambique]] and [[Malawi]]<br />
+
'''Eastern Africa''': [[Sudan]], [[South Sudan]], [[Eritrea]], [[Ethiopia]], [[Somalia]], [[Kenya]], [[Uganda]], [[Rwanda]], [[Burundi]], [[Tanzania]], [[Zambia]], [[Mozambique]] and [[Malawi]]<br />
−
'''Southern Africa''': [[Namibia]], [[Botswana]], [[Zimbabwe]], [[South Africa]] and [[Swaziland]] (not found in the southern-most part of South Africa)
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'''Southern Africa''': [[Namibia]], [[Botswana]], [[Zimbabwe]], [[South Africa]] and [[eSwatini]] (not found in the southern-most part of South Africa)
  
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
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*''N. l. afer'': [[Senegal]] to the [[Sudan]], [[Eritrea]] and [[Ethiopia]]
 
*''N. l. afer'': [[Senegal]] to the [[Sudan]], [[Eritrea]] and [[Ethiopia]]
 
*''N. l. camerunensis'': Southern [[Cameroon]] and [[Central African Republic]] to eastern [[Democratic Republic of Congo]]
 
*''N. l. camerunensis'': Southern [[Cameroon]] and [[Central African Republic]] to eastern [[Democratic Republic of Congo]]
−
*''N. l. minor'': South-eastern [[Sudan]] to southern [[Eritrea]], [[Somalia]], extreme northern [[Kenya]] and [[Tanzania]]
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*''N. l. minor'': Southeastern [[South Sudan]], southeastern [[Ethiopia]], central and southern [[Somalia]], northern and eastern [[Kenya]], and northeastern [[Tanzania]]
 
*''N. l. massaicus'': South-western [[Kenya]] to northern [[Tanzania]], [[Rwanda]] and eastern [[Democratic Republic of Congo]]
 
*''N. l. massaicus'': South-western [[Kenya]] to northern [[Tanzania]], [[Rwanda]] and eastern [[Democratic Republic of Congo]]
 
*''N. l. nigritemporalis'': Eastern [[Angola]], south-eastern [[Democratic Republic of Congo]], [[Tanzania]], [[Zambia]], [[Malawi]], northern [[Mozambique]]
 
*''N. l. nigritemporalis'': Eastern [[Angola]], south-eastern [[Democratic Republic of Congo]], [[Tanzania]], [[Zambia]], [[Malawi]], northern [[Mozambique]]
 
*''N. l. brubru'': Southern [[Angola]] to north-central [[South Africa]]
 
*''N. l. brubru'': Southern [[Angola]] to north-central [[South Africa]]
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*''N. l. solivagus'': [[Swaziland]], [[Zimbabwe]] and inland parts of eastern [[South Africa]] and southern [[Mozambique]]
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*''N. l. solivagus'': [[eSwatini]], [[Zimbabwe]] and inland parts of eastern [[South Africa]] and southern [[Mozambique]]
 
*''N. l. affinis'': Central highlands of western [[Angola]] and adjacent southern [[Democratic Republic of Congo]]
 
*''N. l. affinis'': Central highlands of western [[Angola]] and adjacent southern [[Democratic Republic of Congo]]
 
*''N. l. miombensis'': Coastal parts of eastern [[South Africa]] and [[Mozambique]] (Sol do Save region)
 
*''N. l. miombensis'': Coastal parts of eastern [[South Africa]] and [[Mozambique]] (Sol do Save region)
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==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
 
====Diet====
 
====Diet====
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The diet includes insects, including caterpillars, moths, beetles, ants and grasshoppers.
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The diet consists of insects, including caterpillars, moths, beetles, ants, flies and grasshoppers.
 
====Breeding====
 
====Breeding====
 
They build a well camouflaged cup nest using twigs, grass and spider webs, decorated with lichens. The two whitish, greenish or greyish eggs have grey or brown blotches. They are incubated by both sexes for about 19 days; the young fledge in 22 days and are dependent on their parents for about eight weeks.
 
They build a well camouflaged cup nest using twigs, grass and spider webs, decorated with lichens. The two whitish, greenish or greyish eggs have grey or brown blotches. They are incubated by both sexes for about 19 days; the young fledge in 22 days and are dependent on their parents for about eight weeks.
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==References==
 
==References==
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#{{Ref-HBWVol14}}#{{Ref-Clements6thAug14}}#{{Ref-GillDonsker14V4.4}}#Avibase
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#{{Ref-HBWVol14}}#{{Ref-Clements6thAug17}}#{{Ref-GillDonsker14V4.4}}#Avibase
 
#Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved December 2014)
 
#Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved December 2014)
 
#Wikipedia
 
#Wikipedia
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{{ref}}
 
{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
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{{GSearch|Nilaus+afer}}  
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{{GSearch|"Nilaus afer" {{!}} Brubru -Batis}}
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{{GS-checked}}1
 
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Nilaus]]
 
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Nilaus]]

Latest revision as of 16:30, 15 September 2023

Photo © by volker sthamer
Mkomazi, Tanzania, September 2017
Nilaus afer

Identification

Subspecies brubru
Photo © by albertvoigts
Spitzkoppe, Namibia, 2006

12–15 cm (4¾-6 in)
Male

  • Mantle and central back rufous to buff, but see "Variation" below
  • Mottled black and white rump
  • White-tipped black tail
  • Black crown
  • White supercilium and forehead
Juvenile, subspecies afer
Photo © by volker sthamer
Langano, Ethiopia, November 2011
  • Black eyestripe
  • Black wings with
    • Buff to white shoulder stripe
  • White underparts
  • Rufous flanks

Female

  • Duller and browner
  • Streaked underparts
  • Less rufous flanks

Juvenile

  • Mottled brown, buff and white above
  • Buff edged wings and tail
  • White underparts with brown barring

Variation

The mantle and central back is black in some subspecies. The shoulder stripe varies from white to buff. The underside is white, to pale yellowish in some areas. The flank stripe is chestnut in some areas, white in others.

Distribution

Subspecies solivagus
Photo © by safariranger
Shingwedzi Camp, Kruger National Park, South Africa, November 2006

Widespread in sub-saharan Africa
Western Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Mali, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, DRC and Angola
Eastern Africa: Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi
Southern Africa: Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa and eSwatini (not found in the southern-most part of South Africa)

Taxonomy

Nilaus is a monospecific genus. Its relationships are unclear, and in the past it has been variously treated in Laniidae, Prionopidae, Muscicapidae and Platysteiridae, before finding its current placement in Malaconotidae[1].

Subspecies

Nine subspecies are currently accepted[1][2]:

An extra subspecies N. l. hilgerti in eastern Ethiopia[3] is treated as a synonym of N. l. minor by other authorities[4].

Habitat

Open broad-leaved woodland, and acacia savanna. Generally found in the canopy.

Behaviour

Diet

The diet consists of insects, including caterpillars, moths, beetles, ants, flies and grasshoppers.

Breeding

They build a well camouflaged cup nest using twigs, grass and spider webs, decorated with lichens. The two whitish, greenish or greyish eggs have grey or brown blotches. They are incubated by both sexes for about 19 days; the young fledge in 22 days and are dependent on their parents for about eight weeks.

Brubrus are known to destroy their own nests when disturbed.

Vocalisation

Call: A repeated "brrr brrr ..." (hence the common name); similar to a ringing telephone.

References

  1. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
  2. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  3. Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2014. IOC World Bird Names (version 4.4). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
  4. Avibase
  5. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved December 2014)
  6. Wikipedia
  7. BF Member observations

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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