Criniger calurus
The Red-tailed Greenbul (Criniger calurus) is a strikingly handsome medium-sized passerine, a member of the diverse bulbul family (Pycnonotidae), renowned for its distinctive rufous-chestnut tail. Measuring approximately 18-21 cm (7.1-8.3 inches) in length and weighing between 27-42 grams (1.0-1.5 ounces), it sports olive-green upperparts, a pale greyish-white throat and breast that transition to yellowish-olive on the flanks and belly, and a prominent, often spiky, olive crest. Its most unmi...
Primarily inhabits primary and mature secondary lowland evergreen rainforests, favoring dense undergrowth and forest edges. It can be found from sea level up to elevations of approximately 1,600 meters.
Feeds primarily on a variety of fruits, including berries and small figs, supplemented by insects such as beetles, ants, and caterpillars, which it gleans from vegetation.
This diurnal species is often observed singly, in pairs, or small family groups, frequently joining mixed-species foraging flocks to exploit food resources. It forages actively in the lower to middle strata of the forest, skillfully gleaning insects from foliage and branches, and plucking fruits ...
The Red-tailed Greenbul is a widespread resident across West and Central Africa, extending its breeding and year-round presence from Guinea-Bissau in the west to western Uganda in the east, and south into northern Angola. Its distribution encompasses numerous countries including Sierra Leone, Lib...
Least Concern
- The genus name 'Criniger' is derived from Latin, meaning 'hair-bearing', a direct reference to the prominent crest that many species in this genus, including the Red-tailed Greenbul, possess. - Its distinctive rufous-chestnut tail is not just beautiful but also an important visual cue for ident...