Northern Puffback

Dryoscopus gambensis

Other Names

  Puffback Shrike   Cubla de Gambie   Gambia-Schneeballwürger     Gambiadunrygg   Gambia donsrugklauwier   Puffino settentrionale

World: Africa - between 5°N and 15°N from the coastal regions in the West across to Ethiopia and S to E Zaire, Uganda and Kenya. Populations also exist in the lower Congo Basin.

Kenya: Occurs between 900-2200m mostly N of the equator and W of 38°E.

Puffbacks are members of the Bush-shrike family (Malaconotidae). The Northern Puffback is arboreal descending only as far as the top of tall undergrowth and rarely as far as the ground. It is primarily an insect eater but will take other invertebrate prey. As with the other puffbacks, the Northern has loose feathers on the lowerback and rump which it puffs out making itself look like a ball. It is very similar in appearance to the Black-backed Puffback but has duller white underparts, grey rump and scapulars, and orange-red eyes. Also the 2 birds do not overlap in range. The picture above was taken in very bright light which has bleached some of the grey from the plumage (it was photographed on the Kongolei Escarpment in the Cherangani Hills).