Bird Guide

Sombre Greenbul vs White-browed Bulbul

Sombre Greenbul (Andropadus importunus)

Sombre Greenbul

Andropadus importunus

Small27 gShrubland

The sombre greenbul is 15–18 cm long, with mainly dull greyish olive-green plumage, paler on the underparts than above. There are variations in colour based on habitat range. Individuals located in southern Africa tend to be plain, olive-green. To the north, birds are yellower with greener upper parts. It has a white iris. The sexes are similar in plumage, but juveniles are even duller than the adult and have dark, grey eyes. There is no colour distinction among sexes. The subspecies A. i. hypoxanthus is much yellower below than the nominate subspecies.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Anne Ndung'u · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Andropadus_importunus_3.jpg: Brian Ralphs from Wheaton, IL, USA derivative work: Berichard (talk) · CC BY 2.0
White-browed Bulbul (Pycnonotus luteolus)

White-browed Bulbul

Pycnonotus luteolus

Small35 gShrubland

The white-browed bulbul is about 20 cm (7.9 in) long, with a moderately long (8 centimetres or 3 inches) tail. It has olive-grey upperparts and whitish underparts. This species is identifiable by the white supercilium, white crescent below the eye, and dark eyestripe and moustachial stripe. The vent is yellowish and there is some yellow on the chin and moustache. The throat is, however, largely whitish unlike in the similar looking and sounding yellow-throated bulbul, which is found in rockier habitats. Three or four hair-like filoplumes are present on the nape. Sexes are similar in plumage.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Vihansith Kulatunga · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Rison Thumboor from Thrissur, India · CC BY 2.0

Learn this pair in BeakBrain

Photo and call practice, free in any browser.

Play BeakBrain

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Sombre Greenbul and White-browed Bulbul.