Sabine's puffback, also known as the large-billed puffback, is a species of bird in the family Malaconotidae. It is native to the African tropical rainforest. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical swamps.
Region
West and Central African lowland rainforests
Typical Environment
Occurs in humid tropical forests, especially primary and well-developed secondary lowland rainforest. It frequents forest edges, gallery forests, and swamp forests with dense tangles and lianas. The species typically forages from near the understory up to the mid-canopy, avoiding very open habitats. It may persist in selectively logged areas if sufficient understory structure remains.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Sabine's puffback (also called the large-billed puffback) is a forest bushshrike that gets its name from the male’s display of puffing out long, white lower-back plumes into a conspicuous ball. It forages methodically in the midstory and often joins mixed-species flocks in dense rainforest. Pairs keep close contact with sharp whistles and soft duets, and males frequently display while following the female through the understory.
Temperament
secretive but active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually found in pairs or small family groups within dense foliage. Pairs maintain close contact with duets and coordinated movements through the understory. The nest is a small cup placed in a fork or suspended from vines, and breeding pairs are monogamous during the season.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a series of clear, whistled notes and short phrases given at intervals, often answered by a mate. Calls include sharp chips and rattling scolds when agitated. Vocalizations carry well through dense vegetation.
Plumage
Compact bushshrike with smooth, contrasting plumage; male shows dark upperparts with white underparts and elongated white lower-back plumes that can be flared, female slightly duller with more brownish tones. Both sexes have a noticeably stout bill.
Diet
Primarily hunts insects and other arthropods, including beetles, caterpillars, orthopterans, and spiders. It gleans prey from leaves, twigs, and vine tangles, and will sally short distances to snatch flushed insects. Occasionally takes small vertebrates or fruit when available, but animal prey dominates.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in the understory to mid-canopy of humid forest, especially along edges, gaps, and around vine thickets. Often accompanies mixed-species flocks where it forages methodically through shaded foliage.
