The bristlebills are a genus Bleda of passerine birds in the bulbul family Pycnonotidae. They are found in the forest understorey of western and central Africa. They forage for insects at or near ground-level, often near water. They will follow driver ant swarms to catch prey items fleeing from the ants and they frequently join mixed-species feeding flocks.
| Bristlebills | |
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| Grey-headed bristlebill (Bleda canicapillus) | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Infraorder: | Passerides |
| Family: | Pycnonotidae |
| Genus: | Bleda Bonaparte, 1857 |
| Type species | |
| Dasycephala syndactyla (Red-tailed bristlebill) Swainson, 1837
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| Species | |
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See text | |
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| Synonyms | |
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They are 18–23 cm long with fairly long, stout bills. The upperparts are mainly green-brown while the underparts are yellow. The birds have whistling songs.
The nest is made of leaves or sticks and built in a shrub or small tree. Two eggs are laid.
Taxonomy
editThe genus Bleda was introduced in 1857 by the French naturalist Charles Lucien Bonaparte with the red-tailed bristlebill as the type species.[1] The genus was named after Bleda, elder brother of Attila and joint ruler of the Huns.[2]
Species
editThe genus contains five species:[3]
- Red-tailed bristlebill (Bleda syndactylus)
- Green-tailed bristlebill (Bleda eximius)
- Grey-headed bristlebill (Bleda canicapillus)
- Yellow-lored bristlebill (Bleda notatus)
- Yellow-eyed bristlebill (Bleda ugandae)
Former species
editFormerly, some authorities also considered the following species (or subspecies) as species within the genus Bleda:
- Kakamega greenbul (as Xenocichla kakamegae)[4]
- Olive-breasted greenbul (as Xenocichla kikuyuensis)[5]
- Mountain greenbul (as Xenocichla nigriceps)[6]
- Black-browed greenbul (as Xenocichla fusciceps)[7]
- Yellow-throated greenbul (as Xenocichla chlorigula)[8]
- Stripe-cheeked greenbul (as Xenocichla milanjensis)[9]
- Stripe-faced greenbul (as Xenocichla striifacies)[10]
- Sjöstedt's greenbul (as Xenocichla clamans)[11]
- Yellow-throated leaflove (as Xenocichla flavicollis)[12]
- Uganda yellow-throated greenbul (as Xenocichla pallidigula)[13]
- Gabon leaflove (as Xenocichla orientalis)[14]
- Placid greenbul (as Xenocichla placida)[15]
- Xavier's greenbul (as Xenocichla Xavieri)[16]
- White-throated greenbul (as Xenocichla albigularis)[17]
- Yellow-streaked greenbul (tenuirostris) (as Xenocichla tenuirostris)[18]
- Sharpe's greenbul (as Bleda alfredi)[19]
- Grey-headed greenbul (as Xenocichla poliocephala)[20]
- Lowland tiny greenbul (as Xenocichla debilis)[21]
- Yellow-bearded greenbul (as Xenocichla olivacea)[22]
References
edit- ^ Bonaparte, Charles Lucien (1857). "Notes sur le genre Moquinus, nouvelle forme intermédiaire aux Turdides, aux Laniides et aux Muscicapides; sur le nouveau genre Myiagrien Schwaneria : et sur le Catalogue des Oiseaux d'Europe et d'Algérie". Revue et Magasin de Zoologie Pure et Appliquée. 2nd (in French). 9: 49–63 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- ^ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 73. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
- ^ Gill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P. (eds.). "Family Pycnonotidae". IOC World Bird List. Version 10.2. International Ornithological Congress. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ "Arizelocichla kakamegae - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-04-02.
- ^ "Arizelocichla kikuyuensis - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
- ^ "Arizelocichla nigriceps - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
- ^ "Arizelocichla fusciceps - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
- ^ "Arizelocichla chlorigula - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
- ^ "Arizelocichla milanjensis - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
- ^ "Arizelocichla striifacies - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
- ^ "Baeopogon clamans - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-04-11.
- ^ "Atimastillas flavicollis soror - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
- ^ "Atimastillas flavicollis flavigula (pallidigula) - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
- ^ "Phyllastrephus scandens orientalis - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-04-19.
- ^ "Phyllastrephus placidus - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
- ^ "Phyllastrephus xavieri - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
- ^ "Phyllastrephus albigularis - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
- ^ "Phyllastrephus flavostriatus tenuirostris - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
- ^ "Phyllastrephus alfredi - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
- ^ "Phyllastrephus poliocephalus - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
- ^ "Phyllastrephus debilis - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
- ^ Zoology, British Museum (Natural History) Dept of (1881-01-01). Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum: Passeriformes, or perching birds. Cichlomorphœ: pt. III-IV, containing the ... family Timeliidœ (babbling-thrushes) by R.B. Sharpe. order of the Trustees.
Further reading
edit- African Bird club (2006) ABC African Checklist: Passerines Accessed 31/07/07.
- Serle, W.; Morel G.J. & Hartwig, W. (1977) Collins Field Guide: Birds of West Africa, HarperCollins.
- Sinclair, Ian & Ryan, Peter (2003) Birds of Africa south of the Sahara, Struik, Cape Town.
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