Icterine greenbul

The icterine greenbul (Phyllastrephus icterinus) is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found in western and central Africa.

Icterine greenbul
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Pycnonotidae
Genus: Phyllastrephus
Species:
P. icterinus
Binomial name
Phyllastrephus icterinus
(Bonaparte, 1850)
Synonyms
  • Phyllastrephus leucolepis
  • Trichophorus icterinus

Taxonomy and systematics

The icterine greenbul was originally described in the genus Trichophorus (a synonym for Criniger).[2] The term icterine refers to its yellowish colouration. Formerly, some authorities have considered Sassi's greenbul to be a subspecies of the icterine greenbul.[3][4] Alternate names for the icterine greenbul include the lesser icterine bulbul and lesser icterine greenbul.

Liberian greenbul

Until 2018, a rare colour morph of the icterine greenbul from the Cavalla forest in south-eastern Liberia was believed to be a separate species. The Liberian greenbul (Phyllastrephus leucolepis) was known from only a few sightings between 1981 and 1984, and a specimen collected in 1984.[5] This specimen is now considered to have been a plumage aberration. A 2017 DNA analysis revealed that the bird(s) were common icterine greenbuls, albeit with unusual plumage colouring, which may have been caused by a nutritional deficiency.[6] Alternative names for the Liberian greenbul included the spot-winged bulbul, spot-winged greenbul and white-winged greenbul.

Distribution and habitat

The icterine greenbul is found in Africa from Guinea to Ghana; southern Nigeria to western and southern Uganda, eastern and central Democratic Republic of the Congo and extreme north-western Angola.[7] Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, and moist savanna.

References
  1. BirdLife International (2017). "Phyllastrephus icterinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T119195196A119195626. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T119195196A119195626.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. "Phyllastrephus icterinus - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  3. "Phyllastrephus lorenzi - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  4. "Phyllastrephus leucolepis - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
  5. Wehner, Mike (6 October 2017). "Scientists spent 40 years searching for a bird that never existed". New York Post. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  6. Press Association (13 November 2017). "One of the world's most elusive songbirds may never have existed". Independent.ie. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  7. "Bulbuls « IOC World Bird List". www.worldbirdnames.org. Retrieved 2017-05-04.

Further reading


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