The red-tailed bristlebill or common bristlebill, is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is widely present throughout the African tropical rainforest. It prefers primary over secondary forests.
Region
West and Central Africa
Typical Environment
Found widely through the African tropical rainforest from West Africa east into the Congo Basin and locally to western Uganda and northwestern Angola. It favors primary lowland evergreen forest and mature secondary forest with dense understorey. Birds keep to shaded tangles, vine thickets, and along forest streams and gullies. It is most common in forest interior and avoids open edges and heavily degraded habitats.
Altitude Range
0–1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This skulking forest bulbul has stiff, hair-like bristles at the base of its bill that help it probe and glean insects from foliage and leaf litter. Its loud, clear whistles carry far through dense rainforest and pairs often duet. It prefers intact primary rainforest and is sensitive to heavy habitat disturbance, though it can occur in well-regenerated secondary forest. The species is widespread across the African tropical rainforest belt.
Temperament
secretive and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats through dense cover
Social Behavior
Usually forages singly or in pairs, moving quietly through the understorey and mid-storey. Frequently joins mixed-species flocks in forest interior. Nests are cup-shaped and placed low in dense vegetation; both adults participate in incubation and feeding. Pairs maintain territories and communicate with duets.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A loud series of clear, ringing whistles and fluty phrases that carry well in closed forest. Pairs often answer each other in antiphonal duets. Contact calls include sharp notes and soft churring sounds.
Plumage
Olive-brown upperparts with a distinctly rufous tail and warmer rufous undertail coverts; underparts are olive to yellow-olive. The head is plain with a slightly darker crown and lores, and the bill base shows noticeable stiff bristles. Plumage is soft-toned and unspotted, suited to dense shade.
Diet
Primarily eats insects and other small arthropods, gleaned from leaves, bark, and suspended dead foliage. It probes clusters of dead leaves and vine tangles, often flicking or prying them open to expose prey. It may also take small snails and occasionally supplements with small fruits or berries.
Preferred Environment
Forages in dense understorey, vine tangles, and along shady stream corridors within mature rainforest. Most feeding occurs from near ground level up to the lower mid-storey, rarely venturing into open edges.
