White-bearded Greenbul Criniger ndussumensis Scientific name definitions

c. 18 cm; 24·5–31 g. Relatively small bulbul with conspicuous tufted white throat feathers , sometimes puffed in display. Has crown olive-brown, greyer on hindneck, white streaking on ear-coverts, contrasting pale blue-grey feathering behind, above and in front of eye; upperparts olive-green, dull rufous-cinnamon uppertail-coverts and tail contrasting with back; conspicuous white throat, contrasting with olive-green upper breast ; remainder of breast and belly much brighter yellow, flanks strongly washed dull olive, undertail-coverts cinnamon-buff; iris red-brown; bill blue-grey, darker dorsally; legs blue-grey. Distinguished from extremely similar C. calurus (mainly of E races) by reputedly paler (greyish-white) lores, narrower and slightly shorter bill, also by undertail-coverts on average more cinnamon-rufous and flanks more heavily washed olive (but overlap in characters); reliably separated in the field only by voice. Sexes alike, female on average smaller than male. Juvenile undescribed.

SE Nigeria E to E DRCongo (Semliki and Itombwe), S to coastal Congo; not known to occur across much of intervening region in S part of this range.

Song  3 short harsh syllables on even, relatively low pitch, emphasis on last syllable, “whut-chruw-chruw” or “chuk-yer-chyer”, indistinguishable from that of C. olivaceus; song structure resembles that of C. calurus, but lower-pitched and lacking latter’s sprightly quality. Call a nasal, rather frog-like “quek-quek” or “queg-queg”, not recorded for C. olivaceus. Alarm “tsik” or “tchic”, as for C. calurus.