tags: Brubru, Nilaus afer, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Brubru, Nilaus afer, photographed Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, Africa. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Dan Logen, 15 January 2010 [larger view].
Nikon D300, 200-400 VR lens, at 400 mm. ISO 500, 1/800 sec, f/5.6, Exposure compenstation +1.
Okay, this lovely little bird's ID will drive you crazy (although it is possible that either Adrian or Carel might be able to figure it out), so I will be most pleased if you manage to correctly identify this bird's taxonomic family.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
A member of the bushshrike family found in much of sub-Saharan Africa apart from the western rainforests and southern South Africa. It is the only member of the genus Nilaus. Pairs of this species sing a duet: The male gives a soft prrrrruuu call, often answered by the female's eeeu.
I have been unable to find anything that tells how the bird got its name, although I wonder if the name might be onomatopoeic.
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Well, I don't know exactly, but it is some kind of brubru based on the shape of the head and beak..
*Nilaus afer* from the distinct eye markings and rufus sides?
I found what looks like this bird among the shrikes (Laniidae) -- but the common (?) name, "Brubru" doesn't seem to appear anywhere. Agree with Greg, rufous on flanks distinctive.
Brubru is definitely a term used in southern Africa for this bird. It is a shrike.
Common names are, of course, misleading and tricky, but I have the vague memory of brubru being used in Tanzania but I've spent very little time there. I'm sure it's the official common name in South Africa.
I think "Brubru" is the official common name of this bird throughout its range, in English and French as well.