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Dryoscopus
''Dryoscopus'' is a genus of bird in the Malaconotidae or bushshrike family. Its members are known as puffbacks. The six species, all of fairly uniform appearance and habits, are native to various parts of sub-Saharan Africa. The name ''Dryoscopus'' is a compound Greek word: ''drus'' from the Greek word for "tree" and ''skopos'', meaning "watcher or lookout". Structure and habits Puffbacks are small, active bushshrikes that show a superficial resemblance to boubous. They however display only rudimentary duetting, have red or reddish irides, are smaller and compact with bouncy flight, and display sexual dimorphism. Characteristically, the long, loose and pale feathers of the male bird's back and rump are puffed out conspicuously during display. At the same time he may fly about, calling loudly. Comparable habits are found in some related genera (cf. '' Bocagia'', ''Bias'', '' Lanioturdus'', '' Batis'' and '' Dyaphorophyia''). They move about in pairs in the upper strata of tree ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dryoscopus
''Dryoscopus'' is a genus of bird in the Malaconotidae or bushshrike family. Its members are known as puffbacks. The six species, all of fairly uniform appearance and habits, are native to various parts of sub-Saharan Africa. The name ''Dryoscopus'' is a compound Greek word: ''drus'' from the Greek word for "tree" and ''skopos'', meaning "watcher or lookout". Structure and habits Puffbacks are small, active bushshrikes that show a superficial resemblance to boubous. They however display only rudimentary duetting, have red or reddish irides, are smaller and compact with bouncy flight, and display sexual dimorphism. Characteristically, the long, loose and pale feathers of the male bird's back and rump are puffed out conspicuously during display. At the same time he may fly about, calling loudly. Comparable habits are found in some related genera (cf. '' Bocagia'', ''Bias'', '' Lanioturdus'', '' Batis'' and '' Dyaphorophyia''). They move about in pairs in the upper strata of tree ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Black-backed Puffback
The black-backed puffback (''Dryoscopus cubla'') is a species of passerine bird in the family Malaconotidae. They are common to fairly common sedentary bushshrikes in various wooded habitats in Africa south of the equator. They restlessly move about singly, in pairs or family groups, and generally frequent tree canopies. Like others of its genus, the males puff out the loose rump and lower back feathers in display, to assume a remarkable ball-like appearance. They draw attention to themselves by their varied repertoire of whistling, clicking and rasping sounds. Their specific name ''cubla'', originated with Francois Levaillant, who derived it from a native southern African name, where the "c" is an onomatopoeic click sound. None of the other five puffback species occur in southern Africa. Description They measure about 17 cm in length, and the sexes are similar though easily distinguishable. Adult males have the upperparts deep blue-black with a slight luster. The black ca ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Northern Puffback
The northern puffback (''Dryoscopus gambensis'') is a species of bird in the family Malaconotidae. It is found in northern sub-Saharan Africa. It forms a superspecies with the black-backed puffback, which replaces it in eastern equatorial and southern Africa. Habitat Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical mangrove forests, and moist savanna. Races There are five accepted races: * ''D. g. gambensis'' (M. H. C. Lichtenstein, 1823) – Senegambia to coastal Gabon * ''D. g. congicus'' Sharpe, 1901 – lower catchment of Congo River * ''D. g. malzacii'' (Heuglin, 1870) – eastern Cameroon to northwestern Tanzania * ''D. g. erythreae'' Neumann, 1899 – Eritrea to South Sudan * ''D. g. erwini'' Sassi, 1923 – Itombwe in eastern DRC Gallery File:Dryoscopus gambensis (Malaconotidae) (Northern Puffback) - (male), Mole National Park, Ghana, crop.jpg, Male ''D. g. gambensis'' at Mole National Park Mole National Park is Ghana' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
