Joyful greenbul

Chlorocichla laetissima

TAXONOMY

Andropadus laetissimus Sharpe, 1899, Kenya. Two races recognized based on plumage.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

English: Joyful bulbul; French: Bulbul joyeux; German: Dotterbülbül; Spanish: Bulbul Feliz.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

7.8 in (20 cm); 1.5–1.9 oz (43–55 g). One of the most brightly colored bulbuls, yellow-green upperparts, bright yellow chin and throat, golden-green underparts. Olive tail edged with yellow. Sexes alike. Juvenile washed-out brown, greenish under-parts.

DISTRIBUTION

Endemic; Sudan, eastern Zaire, western Uganda, northern Zambia.

HABITAT

Open parts of primary and secondary forest, forest edges at altitudes of 3,150–7,000 ft (1,050–2,300 m).

BEHAVIOR

Sociable, forages in small flocks of four to eight birds, with noisy, bubbling, chatter. Song described as pleasant and energetic, call a sharp "chik" or "chak."

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Eats berries and seeds, often forages in groups. Prefers low and intermediate levels, less often in canopy and undergrowth.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Unknown in wild. In captivity builds typical cuplike nest of rootlets, grasses, and Spanish moss. Young cared for by both parents, fed live insects and fruit.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened. Common locally but patchy distribution.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

None known.