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  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Infraorder: | Passerides |
| Family: | Pycnonotidae |
| Genus: | Phyllastrephus |
| Species: | P. icterinus |
| Binomial name | |
| Phyllastrephus icterinus (Bonaparte, 1850) | |
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| Synonyms | |
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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.
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
Further reading
- Collinson, J.M.; Päckert, M.; Lawrie, Y.; Gatter, W.; Töpfer, T.; Phalan, B.; Fishpool, L. (2017). "Taxonomic status of the Liberian Greenbul Phyllastrephus leucolepis and the conservation importance of the Cavalla Forest, Liberia". Journal of Ornithology. 159: 19–27. doi:10.1007/s10336-017-1477-0. hdl:2164/8948.
