Bristlebill

Taxobox
name = Bristlebills


regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Pycnonotidae
genus = "Bleda"
genus_authority = Bonaparte, 1857
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =3-5, see text

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 West 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.

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.

pecies list

* Common Bristlebill or Red-tailed Bristlebill, "Bleda syndactylus"
* Green-tailed Bristlebill, "Bleda eximius"
** Lesser Bristlebill or Yellow-lored Bristlebill, "Bleda (eximius) notatus"
** Yellow-eyed Bristlebill, "Bleda (eximius/notatus) ugandae"
* Grey-headed Bristlebill, "Bleda canicapillus"

References

*aut|African Bird club (2006) [http://www.africanbirdclub.org/resources/passerines_2006.doc ABC African Checklist: Passerines] Accessed 31/07/07.
*aut|Serle, W.; Morel G.J. & hartwig, W. (1977) "Collins Field Guide: Birds of West Africa", HarperCollins.
*aut|Sinclair, Ian & Ryan, Peter (2003) "Birds of Africa south of the Sahara", Struik, Cape Town.