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Black-backed Puffback
Afrikaans name: Sneeubal
Photo © Steven Herbert
Dryoscopus cubla
The Black-backed Puffback is a member of the Shrike family and used to go under the name of Puffback. This name arises from the males ability to fluff up the white feathers on its back.
The Puffback feeds mainly off insects such as beetles and caterpillars but it will also take termites and some plant food.
The female is the one who builds the nest when a piar is ready to breed. She builds a neat cup structure in a tree or bush. The male does help out a bit by bringing some nesting material. Two or three eggs are laid.
Male and female are similar in looks but the male does show more black on his head and back.
References and further reading
A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 47Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Year Published: 1992 - Page: 100
Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Year Published: 1999 - Page: 73
Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 186
Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind - Author: B. Hilton-Barber & Prof. L. R. Berger - Year Published: 2004 - Page: 187
Geoff Lockwood's Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Year Published: - Page: 78
Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 648
Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 647
Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 392
Shrikes of Southern Africa - Author: Tony Harris and Graeme Arnott - Year Published: - Page: 123