Bleda eximius
The Green-tailed Bristlebill (Bleda eximius) is a distinctive medium-sized bulbul of the family Pycnonotidae, measuring approximately 20-22 cm in length and weighing 32-51 grams. This species is characterized by its bright olive-green upperparts, including a notably greener tail that gives it its common name, contrasting with brilliant yellow underparts from the throat to the undertail coverts. A key field mark is the dark grey head, often accentuated by pale orbital skin or a faint pale eye-...
This species primarily inhabits the dense undergrowth and lower strata of lowland primary and mature secondary rainforests, often found near streams or swampy areas. It prefers extremely thick vegetation, including tangles and lianas, typically occurring at elevations below 1,000 meters.
Its diet consists mainly of insects, including beetles, caterpillars, ants, and other arthropods, supplemented by small fruits and berries.
The Green-tailed Bristlebill is a shy and secretive diurnal species, spending most of its time skulking quietly in dense, low-level vegetation, making it often heard rather than seen. It forages solitarily or in pairs, gleaning insects and other arthropods from leaves, twigs, and bark, occasional...
The Green-tailed Bristlebill is endemic to the tropical forests of West and Central Africa. Its range extends from Sierra Leone and Guinea eastward through Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, and into t...
Least Concern
- The 'bristles' around its bill are actually modified feathers, believed to aid in foraging or tactile sensing within dense vegetation. - Despite its vibrant coloration, the Green-tailed Bristlebill is notoriously difficult to observe, earning it the nickname 'ghost of the undergrowth' among som...