Criniger barbatus
The Western Bearded Greenbul (Criniger barbatus) is a vibrant and vocal passerine bird belonging to the bulbul family (Pycnonotidae), easily recognized by its distinctive bristly 'beard' of white or pale yellow feathers adorning its throat. This medium-sized greenbul typically measures 19-22 cm (7.5-8.7 in) in length and weighs around 40-50 grams, featuring a dull olive-green back, wings, and tail, contrasting with a brighter yellow belly and flanks. Its head is often a slightly darker olive,...
Found primarily in the understory and mid-strata of tropical and subtropical moist lowland forests, secondary growth, and dense thickets, preferring areas with good canopy cover. It can also adapt to plantations and degraded forest edges, typically occurring from sea level up to 1,500 meters (4,9...
Primarily insectivorous, consuming caterpillars, beetles, and other invertebrates gleaned from foliage, supplemented significantly by small fruits and berries.
The Western Bearded Greenbul is a diurnal and highly arboreal species, spending most of its time foraging within the foliage of trees and shrubs. It is often observed singly or in pairs, but frequently joins mixed-species foraging flocks, moving purposefully through the undergrowth. Foraging invo...
The Western Bearded Greenbul is a widespread resident breeder across a significant portion of West Africa. Its distribution extends from southern Senegal and Guinea-Bissau eastward through Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, and Benin, reaching into southwestern Nigeria. Th...
Least Concern
- The 'beard' on its throat, from which it gets its name, is actually composed of stiff, bristly feathers rather than true bristles or specialized skin appendages. - Despite its relatively dull olive-green plumage, its loud and characteristic calls often make it easier to detect by ear than by si...