Zanzibar Sombre Greenbul

Andropadus importunus

Other Names

  Sombre Greenbul, Southern Sombre-Greenbul, Sombre Bulbul   Bulbul importun   Schlichtbülbül         Bulverde scuro

World: Africa - A bird of the extreme East of the continent. Ranges from Southern Somalia down through Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique through Natal to the Cape.

Kenya: Relatively common in the area S of the Equator and E of 36°E.

There are 2 races of Zanzibar Sombre Greenbul present in Kenya. The Eastern race Andropadus importunus insularis (pictured above) is the more easterly race, found in the coastal lowlands, while A. i. fricki is known from the central regions around Embu, Meru and Thika. In adult plumage the 2 races can be distinguished from the eye, A. i. insularis lacks the yellow eye-ring of A. i. fricki (juvenile insularis lose their eye-ring as they moult into adult plumage).

They are highly vocal birds throughout the day often singing from open perches. When not perched singing they are shy, skulking through the thick vegetation on which they rely for their food. Their diet consists, almost exclusively, of fruit.