Terrestrial brownbul

Introduction: As the name suggests, terrestrial brownbuls (Pyllastrephus terrestris) prefer a ground-dwelling habitat, especially the understory of thickly vegetated areas ranging from lowland to coastal evergreen to mountain forest.

Distribution: Mainly in the Caprivi Strip and Rundu.

Diet: Eats mostly spiders, ants, termites, beetles, snails, small lizards, seeds and fruits.

Description: A small to medium-sized, slender bulbul with a long, slender bill and a drab brown to olive green plumage. The Greek word pyllastrephus refers to 'phullon' or a leaf and 'strepho' to bend or toss, a reference to their habit of scratching about in fallen leaves.

Breeding: Both male and female build a shallow cup of twigs, leaves and bark, placed a couple of metres above the ground, usually on a branch. 2 or 3 eggs are laid between October and April and incubated for 13 days by both sexes.

Size: 21cm.

Weight: 34g.