About the Black-backed Puffback
The black-backed puffback 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…
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
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 cap subtends the red eye, the upperpart plumage is black-and-white, and the underparts pure white. Females have a black loral stripe and white supraloral feathering, with the ear coverts pale and the crown not solidly black. They also have greyer backs than males, and grey to buffy tones to the white plumage tracts.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Black-backed Puffback sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Somalia.
When to see it
Peak activity in November · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Northern PuffbackDryoscopus gambensisThe northern puffback is a species of bird in the family Malaconotidae.
Pink-footed PuffbackDryoscopus angolensisThe pink-footed puffback is a species of bird in the family Malaconotidae.
Sabine's PuffbackDryoscopus sabiniSabine's puffback, also known as the large-billed puffback, is a species of bird in the family Malaconotidae.
Learn the Black-backed Puffback for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.