Photo: Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa · CC BY 2.0 · source ↗
Brubru
Bontroklaksman · Nilaus afer
A small, neatly patterned bush-shrike that creeps along branches rather like a nuthatch. It is black and white above with chestnut flank stripes, and is named for its purring, trilling call. It feeds high in the canopy on caterpillars and other insects, and is far more often heard than clearly seen among the leaves.
Log your Brubru sighting — free →How to identify it
Small, compact and nuthatch-like, boldly black-and-white above with rust-red stripes along the flanks.
Listen for its call
A long trilling "prrrrr" like an old telephone ringing in the trees.
Where to see it in Kruger
Resident in woodland canopy throughout the park, often detected first by its distinctive purring trill.
Did you know
Its name comes from its call, a soft purring 'brrr' trill that sounds like a tiny telephone ringing in the trees.
Often confused with
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