Brubru Nilaus afer - some photos and notes

Brubru Nilaus afer

Female Brubru, Ghana, June 2011 - click for larger image

Ghana and Ethiopia

The Brubru is distributed in Africa south of the Sahara where there is suitable woodland or scrub. See the distribution map at Birdlife International.

A member of the Bush-shrike family, the male is striking with his black crown, white forehead and black, white and buff upperparts. Underparts are white with chestnut on the flanks. Photos 1 and 2 show the much duller female.

The English name derives from the male's song which consists of a repeated trill brruuuuuuu.

Brubru, Koka Dam, Ethiopia, January 2016 - click for larger image

In Ethiopia, there are two sub-species, the nominate to the west of the Rift Valley and N. a. minor to the east. This is distinguished by the white rather than buffy stripe on the wing.

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