Bristlebill

The bristlebills are a genus of passerine birds belonging to the genus Bleda in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. They are found in the understorey of forests in 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
Grey-headed bristlebill (Bleda canicapillus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Pycnonotidae
Genus:	Bleda Bonaparte, 1857
Species
See text
Synonyms
Xenocichla

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 and systematics

Extant species

There are five extant species in the genus Bleda:[1]

• 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

Formerly, some authorities also considered the following species (or subspecies) as species within the genus Bleda:

• Kakamega greenbul (as Xenocichla kakamegae)[2]
• Olive-breasted greenbul (as Xenocichla kikuyuensis)[3]
• Mountain greenbul (as Xenocichla nigriceps)[4]
• Black-browed greenbul (as Xenocichla fusciceps)[5]
• Yellow-throated greenbul (as Xenocichla chlorigula)[6]
• Stripe-cheeked greenbul (as Xenocichla milanjensis)[7]
• Stripe-faced greenbul (as Xenocichla striifacies)[8]
• Sjöstedt's greenbul (as Xenocichla clamans)[9]
• Yellow-throated leaflove (as Xenocichla flavicollis)[10]
• Uganda yellow-throated greenbul (as Xenocichla pallidigula)[11]
• Gabon leaflove (as Xenocichla orientalis)[12]
• Placid greenbul (as Xenocichla placida)[13]
• Xavier's greenbul (as Xenocichla Xavieri)[14]
• White-throated greenbul (as Xenocichla albigularis)[15]
• Yellow-streaked greenbul (tenuirostris) (as Xenocichla tenuirostris)[16]
• Sharpe's greenbul (as Bleda alfredi)[17]
• Grey-headed greenbul (as Xenocichla poliocephala)[18]
• Lowland tiny greenbul (as Xenocichla debilis)[19]
• Yellow-bearded greenbul (as Xenocichla olivacea)[20]

References

• 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.

Notes

1. Gill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P. (eds.). "Family Pycnonotidae". IOC World Bird List. Version 10.2. International Ornithological Congress. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
2. "Arizelocichla kakamegae - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-04-02.
3. "Arizelocichla kikuyuensis - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
4. "Arizelocichla nigriceps - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
5. "Arizelocichla fusciceps - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
6. "Arizelocichla chlorigula - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
7. "Arizelocichla milanjensis - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
8. "Arizelocichla striifacies - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
9. "Baeopogon clamans - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-04-11.
10. "Atimastillas flavicollis soror - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
11. "Atimastillas flavicollis flavigula (pallidigula) - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
12. "Phyllastrephus scandens orientalis - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-04-19.
13. "Phyllastrephus placidus - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
14. "Phyllastrephus xavieri - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
15. "Phyllastrephus albigularis - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
16. "Phyllastrephus flavostriatus tenuirostris - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
17. "Phyllastrephus alfredi - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
18. "Phyllastrephus poliocephalus - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
19. "Phyllastrephus debilis - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
20. 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.

External links