Brubru facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brubru |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Nilaus
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| Species: |
afer
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| Synonyms | |
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The brubru (Nilaus afer) is a cool bird that lives in most parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. It belongs to a bird family called bushshrikes (Malaconotidae). The brubru is special because it's the only bird in its group, called the Nilaus genus.
Contents
Where Brubrus Live and What Their Home Looks Like
Brubrus like to live in dry, open forests, but their exact home can change depending on where they are. For example, brubrus in northern and southern Africa often live in forests with acacia trees. Other brubrus, found in places like Angola, Namibia, Tanzania, and Mozambique, prefer a different type of forest called Brachystegia miombo woodland.
What Brubrus Look Like
The brubru is a small passerine bird, which means it's a type of perching bird. It's usually about 12 to 15 centimeters (about 5 to 6 inches) long.
Male Brubru's Appearance
The adult male brubru has a black top of its head, a white stripe above its eye, and a black stripe through its eye. Its back is black with a brownish-yellow stripe. The tail is black with white tips and edges. Its wings are black with a light brown stripe on the shoulder. The belly and chest are white, with reddish-brown sides.
Female and Young Brubrus
Female brubrus are a bit duller and browner than males. They might have some streaks on their chest and less reddish-brown on their sides. Young brubrus look different too. They are a mix of brown, light brown, and white on top, with light brown edges on their wing and tail feathers. Their undersides are whitish with brown stripes.
Different Brubru Types
There are different kinds of brubrus, called subspecies, and they can look a little different from each other. For example, one type called N. a. nigritemporalis has no stripe above its eye and a white shoulder patch instead of a light brown one. Other types might have more or less white above the eye, or different amounts of reddish-brown on their sides.
Brubru Calls
Brubrus often sing together! The male makes a soft prrrrruuu sound, and the female often answers with an eeeu call.
How Brubrus Behave
Brubrus are usually found alone or in pairs. They are busy birds that like to stay in the trees, where they hunt for insects. They need large trees to find enough food, so they have a very big territory for a bird their size, usually about 35 hectares (which is like 70 football fields!). If there are lots of insects around, brubrus might join other types of birds to feed together.
Brubru Breeding and Nests
Brubrus build a simple, cup-shaped nest using small twigs, grass, and spider webs. They usually place it in a tree fork and decorate it with lichens, which helps to hide it very well.
Eggs and Chicks
The female brubru usually lays two eggs. These eggs are off-white, greenish, or grayish, with spots of gray or brown. Both the male and female take turns sitting on the eggs to keep them warm, which takes about 19 days until they hatch. After the chicks hatch, they stay in the nest for about 22 more days. Even after they leave the nest, their parents take care of them for about eight weeks.
It's interesting that brubrus sometimes destroy their own nests, especially if something disturbs them.
Images for kids
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A Brubru bird
