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Black-backed Puffback (Dryoscopus cubla) in Kruger National Park

Photo: Lip Kee from Singapore, Republic of Singapore · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source ↗

Birds Shrikes & bush-shrikes Common

Black-backed Puffback

Sneeubalbyvanger · Dryoscopus cubla

A lively little canopy shrike, the male black above and white below with a piercing red eye. In display he fluffs the loose feathers of his rump into a striking white ball, giving the bird its name. Pairs move busily through treetops gleaning insects, keeping contact with a sharp, repeated clicking call.

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How to identify it

Small black-and-white shrike with a glowing red eye; the male puffs his white rump into a fluffy ball when displaying.

Listen for its call

Clicking "click... weet" while puffing its back into a powder-puff ball.

Where to see it in Kruger

Resident in woodland canopy park-wide, working actively through the leaves; the bright red eye catches the light.

Did you know

When showing off, the male fluffs out his lower back until he looks like he is wearing a powder-puff snowball.

Often confused with

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