Sombre Greenbul

Afrikaans name: Gewone willie

Sombre Greenbul

Photo © Steven Herbert

Andropadus importunus

The Sombre Greenbul used to be called Sombre Bulbul. It is quite shy but has a distinctive call that gives its presence away.

It prefers areas with lots of trees and bushes and is common in areas of lowland forest and other places where there are thickets to give it cover.

The Sombre Greenbul is a dull olive colour with a white eye. The sexes have the same colouration. It is similar in looks to the Yellow-bellied Greenbul but that species has white eyelids and a black eye.

Photo © Steven Herbert

They feed on fruit, insects, nectar and flowers. They breed during spring and summer. The female lays up to 3 eggs and incubates them by herself. The male brings her food at times and also assists with feeding the chicks.

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References and further reading

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Year Published: 1983 - Page: 221

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1959 - Page: 73

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 73

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 162

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Year Published: - Page: 163

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 185

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Year Published: 1999 - Page: 55

Everyone's Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 120

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 154

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Year Published: 2017 - Page: 103

Geoff Lockwood's Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Year Published: - Page: 91

Ian Sinclair's Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Year Published: 1988 - Page: 222

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 1984 - Page: 304

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 2000 - Page: 304

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Year Published: 1949 - Page: 229

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 376

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1981 - Page: 388

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 501

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 496

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 300

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 314

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Year Published: 1989 - Page: 8

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Year Published: 1979 - Page: 34

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 146

List of South African Birds