Ixonotus guttatus
The Spotted Greenbul (Ixonotus guttatus) is a captivating member of the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae, endemic to the lush forests of sub-Saharan Africa. This small to medium-sized passerine, typically measuring 15-17 cm in length and weighing around 20-28 grams, exhibits striking features that aid in its identification. Its upperparts are a uniform olive-green, contrasting sharply with its clean white throat and distinctive, heavily white-spotted breast and flanks set against a pale yellowish ...
Found primarily in evergreen primary and secondary forests, gallery forests, and dense woodlands, typically at elevations from sea level up to 1,500 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide variety of insects such as beetles, ants, and larvae, supplemented with small wild fruits and berries.
The Spotted Greenbul is a diurnal and highly active species, spending its day foraging within the mid-canopy and understory layers of its forest habitat. It is frequently observed participating in large, bustling mixed-species foraging flocks, where it moves agilely through foliage, gleaning inse...
The Spotted Greenbul is a non-migratory resident species found across a wide swath of West and Central Africa. Its distribution extends from Sierra Leone and Liberia eastward through Guinea, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria. Further east, its range encompasses Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, and the Democ...
Least Concern
- The Spotted Greenbul is the only species in its genus, Ixonotus, making it a truly unique lineage among bulbuls. - It is a cornerstone species in mixed-species foraging flocks across its range, often acting as a 'nuclear species' that other birds follow. - Its bright golden-yellow eye is a key ...