Joyful Greenbul

Chlorocichla laetissima

Other Names

    Bulbul joyeux   Dotterbülbül         Bulverde gioioso

World: East and Central Africa from central n Zambia through eastern Zaire, Uganda, w Kenya to se Sudan.

Kenya: Forests from Mt Elgon and Saiwa running south through Kericho, west Mau, Lolgorien to the nw Mara. This limited distribution marks the most easterly extent of its range.

Named for its conspicuously exuberant behaviour this is one of those forest species that birders love. It's noisy, it's found near clearings and it travels in small groups. There's no head-scratching or confusion around this bird, no skulking in undergrowth - you know when you've seen a Joyful Greenbul. In Kenya the Kakamega forest is one of the best places to see these birds.