Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Northern Brownbul
Phyllastrephus strepitans
Northern Brownbul (Phyllastrephus strepitans) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Northern Brownbul (Phyllastrephus strepitans) is a member of the Pycnonotidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 27.1 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 Pycnonotidae Bulbuls
- Genus Phyllastrephus
- Species strepitans
Quick facts
- Weight
- 27.1 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Pycnonotidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Northern Brownbul is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Northern Brownbul is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Northern Brownbul (Phyllastrephus strepitans) belongs to the Pycnonotidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF e.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 27.1 g, with a wing length of about 8 cm and a tail of around 8.3 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 1.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Northern Brownbul?
The Northern Brownbul is a small bird that weighs around 27.1 g.
Where does the Northern Brownbul live?
The Northern Brownbul is found across Africa with a range covering AF e, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Northern Brownbul belong to?
The Northern Brownbul (Phyllastrephus strepitans) belongs to the Pycnonotidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Northern Brownbul eat?
The Northern Brownbul is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Northern Brownbul migrate?
The Northern Brownbul is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Northern Brownbul 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 Northern Brownbul make?
1 real field recording of the Northern Brownbul — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Northern Brownbul's range?
The Northern Brownbul has a mapped global range of about 1.3 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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