Eurillas curvirostris
The Plain Greenbul (Eurillas curvirostris) is a medium-sized songbird, typically measuring 17-19 cm (6.7-7.5 inches) in length and weighing around 24-32 grams. Its plumage is characterized by plain olive-green upperparts, gradually fading to dull yellow-green on the underparts, giving it a somewhat understated appearance. A key identification feature is its striking pale, often whitish, iris which contrasts with its dusky lores and otherwise subdued coloration. The bill is slender and notably...
This species primarily inhabits the understory and mid-canopy of primary and secondary lowland rainforests, occasionally extending into gallery forests and dense secondary growth, typically at elevations below 1200-1500 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on caterpillars, beetles, ants, and spiders, supplemented with a significant proportion of small fruits and berries.
Plain Greenbuls are active birds, typically foraging individually or in pairs, though they frequently join mixed-species flocks, often acting as a 'nuclear species' around which other insectivores gather. Their foraging strategy involves actively gleaning insects, spiders, and small fruits from f...
The Plain Greenbul boasts a wide distribution across Equatorial Africa, primarily inhabiting the lowland rainforest belt. Its range extends from Sierra Leone and Guinea in West Africa, eastward through Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea. Further east, it...
Least Concern
- The scientific epithet 'curvirostris' literally means 'curved bill', a direct reference to one of its key physical identifiers. - Despite its name, the 'plainness' refers more to its lack of prominent crests, streaks, or bold patterns found in many other bulbul species. - Its distinctive pale o...