Gray Greenbul Eurillas gracilis Scientific name definitions

c. 16 cm; male 18–23 g, female 19–28 g (ugandae). Small, short-tailed greenbul. Nominate race has top of head and neck olive-grey, lores and ear-coverts grey, slightly paler than crown, conspicuous contrasting white eyering; upperparts, including wings, olive-green, rump, uppertail-coverts and tail washed chestnut; throat and upper breast pale olive-grey, rest of underparts greyer with some yellowish-olive, undertail-coverts brown; iris brown, olive-brown or brownish-grey; bill black or dark brown; legs olive-green, brownish-horn or blue-grey. Distinguished from extremely similar E. ansorgei by yellow (not ginger) on underparts; from E. curvirostris by smaller size, more delicate bill, less contrasting throat, and much more visible eyering; from both of these also by voice. Sexes alike, female on average smaller than male. Juvenile is as adult, but brighter green above and yellow below, throat washed green, eyering yellowish, gape yellow, eye grey-brown, legs olive. Race <em>extrema</em> has breast and belly greenish-olive with yellow more extensive, almost pure yellow in centre of belly ; <em>ugandae</em> is similar to previous, but yellow of underparts rather less bright.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Fruits and seeds; also arthropods, including orthopterans, mantids, beetles (Coleoptera), moths and caterpillars (Lepidoptera), ants (Hymentoptera), spiders (Araneae); also small gastropods. Fruits taken include Croton, Ficus, Macaranga, Musanga, Ochthocosmus, Rauwolfia, Trema. Occurs singly, in pairs or in small family groups; occasionally joins mixed bird parties. Not shy. Forages at all heights, mainly in middle levels (8–15 m in Gabon, 10–25 m in Liberia), but also ranging on occasion up to canopy and down to bushes at 1–2 m in search of ripe fruit. Generally occurs lower down than E. ansorgei where the two sympatric. Also gleans from leaves, vegetation tangles, lianes, twigs, sometimes pursuing dislodged insects in short flights.

Song  4–5 rapid, jaunty notes, “wheet wu-wheet-wu-wheet”, ascending at end, also quieter “tehu-tehee-tee”, similar to that of E. ansorgei but with more syllables and more lively delivery. Call  a short “tyuc tyuc”.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Generally common, and widespread. Adaptable species. Estimated densities in Gabon 10–12 pairs/km² in old second growth and 5–6 pairs/km² in more disturbed habitat, such as farmland; estimated density in Nigeria 1 bird/3 ha. Occurs in numerous national parks, including those of Sapo, in Liberia, Taï Forest, in Ivory Coast, Kakum, in Ghana, Korup, in Cameroon, Lopé, in Gabon, Nouabalé-Ndoki, in PRCongo, Kahuzi-Biéga, in DRCongo, and Bwindi-Impenetrable Forest, in Uganda. First record for Tanzania in 1998 (1 Fisher, D., and N. Hunter (2016). East African Rarities Committee Report 2013–2015. Scopus 36(2):57–64. Close ).