Photo: Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Brubru
Nilaus afer
Brubru (Nilaus afer) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Brubru (Nilaus afer) is a member of the Malaconotidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 19.1 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Malaconotidae Bushshrikes
- Genus Nilaus
- Species afer
Quick facts
- Weight
- 19.1 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Malaconotidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Brubru is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Brubru is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Brubru (Nilaus afer) belongs to the Malaconotidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 19.1 g, with a wing length of about 7.8 cm and a tail of around 5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 10.6 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Brubru?
The Brubru is a small bird that weighs around 19.1 g.
Where does the Brubru live?
The Brubru is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Brubru belong to?
The Brubru (Nilaus afer) belongs to the Malaconotidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Brubru eat?
The Brubru is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Brubru migrate?
The Brubru is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Brubru endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Brubru make?
1 real field recording of the Brubru — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Brubru's range?
The Brubru has a mapped global range of about 10.6 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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