Photo: gisela gerson lohman-braun / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Northern Puffback
Dryoscopus gambensis
Northern Puffback (Dryoscopus gambensis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Northern Puffback (Dryoscopus gambensis) is a member of the Malaconotidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 31.9 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 Dryoscopus
- Species gambensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 31.9 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Malaconotidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Northern Puffback 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 Northern Puffback is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Northern Puffback (Dryoscopus gambensis) is a member of the Malaconotidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF w, c.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 31.9 g, with a wing length of about 9.1 cm and a tail of around 7.5 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 5.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Northern Puffback?
The Northern Puffback is a small bird that weighs around 31.9 g.
Where does the Northern Puffback live?
The Northern Puffback is found across Africa with a range covering AF w, c, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Northern Puffback belong to?
The Northern Puffback (Dryoscopus gambensis) belongs to the Malaconotidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Northern Puffback eat?
The Northern Puffback is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Northern Puffback migrate?
The Northern Puffback is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Northern Puffback 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 Puffback make?
1 real field recording of the Northern Puffback — 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 Puffback's range?
The Northern Puffback has a mapped global range of about 5.6 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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