The placid greenbul (Phyllastrephus placidus) is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found in eastern Africa from eastern Kenya through Tanzania to north-eastern Zambia, Malawi and north-western Mozambique.[1] In the Taita Hills (southeast Kenya), habitat features associated with nest‐site selection vary among forest fragments that are exposed to different levels of habitat disturbance.[2]

Placid greenbul
In Malawi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Infraorder: Passerides
Family: Pycnonotidae
Genus: Phyllastrephus
Species:
P. placidus
Binomial name
Phyllastrephus placidus
(Shelley, 1899)
Synonyms
  • Phyllastrephus cabanisi placidus
  • Phyllastrephus fischeri placidus
  • Phyllastrephus modestus placidus
  • Phyllastrephus sucosus placidus
  • Xenocichla placida

They are insectivores.[3] They do not exhibit sexual dimorphism, except a slight size difference.[3] Their lifespan is relatively long, and can last up to 19 years.[3]

Breeding edit

They lay clutches of 2-3 eggs and incubate them for 15-17 days.[3] Nestlings fledge 10-13 days after hatching.[3]

Taxonomy and systematics edit

The placid greenbul was originally described in the genus Xenocichla (a synonym for Bleda). Some authorities consider the placid greenbul to be either a subspecies of Cabanis's greenbul or Fischer's greenbul. Alternate names for the placid greenbul include the Kenya Highlands greenbul, Kenya Highlands olive bulbul, Kenya Highlands olive greenbul, olive mountain greenbul, and Shelley's greenbul.[4] The latter name should not be confused with the species of the same name, Arizelocichla masukuensis.

References edit

  1. ^ "Bulbuls « IOC World Bird List". www.worldbirdnames.org. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  2. ^ Loock, Dries Van De; Strubbe, Diederik; Thijs, Koen W.; Peer, Thomas Van De; Neve, Liesbeth De; Githiru, Mwangi; Matthysen, Erik; Lens, Luc (2020). "Flexible nest-site selection under anthropogenic habitat change in an Afrotropical understorey insectivore". Ibis. 162 (1): 187–200. doi:10.1111/ibi.12691. hdl:10067/1564080151162165141. ISSN 1474-919X. S2CID 91853491.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Reproductive Success, II:", Population Ecology of the Cooperatively Breeding Acorn Woodpecker. (MPB-24), Volume 24, Princeton University Press, pp. 140–165, 2020-03-31, retrieved 2024-02-14
  4. ^ "Phyllastrephus placidus – Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-05-03.