The red-tailed leaflove is a species of leaflove in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is mainly native to the African tropical rainforest.
Region
West and Central Africa
Typical Environment
Found across the humid lowland forests of West and Central Africa, including mature primary rainforest, secondary growth, gallery forests, and riverine thickets. It favors dense vine tangles and understory near streams and forest edges. It also occupies swamp forests and degraded forest mosaics where cover remains thick. Human-altered habitats with sufficient shrub layer can be used, especially along watercourses.
Altitude Range
0–1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The red-tailed leaflove is a skulking greenbul that prefers dense tangles and riverine thickets in African rainforests. Its warm rufous tail is often the best field mark as it flicks through shadowy understory. It forages quietly in pairs or small groups, gleaning insects and small fruits. Despite living in deep forest, its ringing, whistled notes can carry surprisingly far.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically found singly, in pairs, or small family parties moving through dense understory. Territorial pairs maintain contact with soft calls and engage in quiet, methodical foraging. Nests are usually cup-shaped structures placed low in dense vegetation, built from leaves and fibers. Likely monogamous during the breeding season.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a series of clear, ringing whistles interspersed with thin chattering notes. Calls include sharp chips and soft contact notes used while moving through cover.
Plumage
Olive-brown to brownish-olive upperparts with a contrasting warm rufous tail; paler, gray-olive underparts with a slightly lighter throat. Feathers appear soft and plain with minimal streaking. The head can show a slightly grayer tone than the back.
Diet
Feeds on a mix of insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates gleaned from leaves and twigs. Also consumes small fruits and berries, especially when insect prey is less abundant. Occasionally hawks short distances to snatch flushed insects. Will join mixed-species flocks at times to forage more efficiently.
Preferred Environment
Forages in dense understory, vine tangles, and along forest edges and streams where cover is thick. Frequently searches among low shrubs, saplings, and lianas, rarely venturing into open canopy. Edges of secondary forest and gallery forests are commonly used feeding sites.
