Dryoscopus cubla
The Black-backed Puffback (Dryoscopus cubla) is a striking passerine bird, roughly 17-18 cm (6.7-7.1 inches) in length and weighing 25-35 grams, characterized by its glossy black upperparts contrasting sharply with pristine white underparts. Males exhibit a more intense black and possess a distinctive patch of white rump feathers which they 'puff out' during display, while females are slightly duller with a brownish-black back. A prominent pale, often yellow or cream, iris serves as a key ide...
This adaptable species thrives in a variety of wooded habitats, including dry woodlands, savannas, riverine forests, forest edges, and even suburban gardens. It can be found from sea level up to elevations of approximately 2,000 meters (6,500 feet).
Primarily insectivorous, their diet consists mainly of caterpillars, beetles, ants, grasshoppers, and spiders, gleaned actively from vegetation.
The Black-backed Puffback is a diurnal and active bird, typically observed foraging during the day, often conspicuously. It primarily gleans insects and other arthropods from foliage and branches, sometimes probing bark crevices or hawking flying insects. Pairs are monogamous and fiercely territo...
The Black-backed Puffback is widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, maintaining a resident status throughout its vast range with no significant migratory movements. Its distribution extends from eastern Africa, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda, southward through Zambia, Malawi...
Least Concern
- The 'Puffback' in its name refers to the male's elaborate courtship display, where he dramatically fluffs out a patch of white feathers on his lower back. - Their distinctive, mechanical-sounding call, often a duet between the male and female, is a characteristic sound of the African bush. - De...