Slate-colored boubou facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Slate-colored boubou |
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| Adult in Serengeti, Tanzania | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Malaconotidae |
| Genus: | Laniarius |
| Species: |
L. funebris
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| Binomial name | |
| Laniarius funebris (Hartlaub, 1863)
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The slate-colored boubou (Laniarius funebris) is a fascinating bird found in parts of Africa. It lives in countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. This bird is known for its unique calls and how it sings duets with its mate.
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What Does the Slate-colored Boubou Look Like?
The slate-colored boubou is about 20 cm (8 in) long. It is completely dark slate grey in color. Both male and female birds look very similar. Young birds, called immatures, have feathers that are more striped with tawny brown and black colors.
Where Does the Slate-colored Boubou Live?
This bird lives in several different natural places. You can find it in dry forests, dry savanna areas, and dry or moist shrublands. These are all warm, often bushy, environments in Africa.
Amazing Calls and Duets
Male slate-colored boubous have many different calls. Some sound like a noisy shhhhh, or strong clicking sounds. Another common call is coco-weet, with the last part rising in sound. The calls can sound a bit different depending on where the bird lives.
These birds often sing songs together in a duet. This means the male and female of a pair sing at the same time. Scientists have studied these duets. They found that some songs might be for mating. Other songs could be used to mark their territory and tell other birds to stay away.
Nests and Eggs
The slate-colored boubou builds its nest in a shrub or a tree. They usually place the nest about 1.5 m (5 ft) above the ground. The female bird typically lays a clutch of 2 to 3 eggs at a time.
Who Discovered This Bird?
A German naturalist named Gustav Hartlaub was the first to describe the slate-colored boubou in 1863.
Images for kids
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Lake Bogoria - Kenya
 | Janet Taylor Pickett |
 | Synthia Saint James |
 | Howardena Pindell |
 | Faith Ringgold |
