Brubru
BrubruBrubruBrubruBrubru

Brubru

Nilaus afer

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Namib-Naukluft National Park
72 Verified sightings at Namib-Naukluft National Park From 2019 to 2026
5,761 Verified sightings across all 44 parks From 2019 to 2026
April Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Brubru

The brubru (Nilaus afer) is a species of bushshrike (family Malaconotidae) found in most of Sub-Saharan Africa. It is the only member of the genus Nilaus. Slight plumage and size variations reflect different ecological niches. Race N. a. hilgerti is currently synonymized with N. a. minor. The subspecies include:

Nilaus afer afer — West Africa, with distinctive male plumage Nilaus afer massaicus — East Africa, including northeastern Uganda Nilaus afer minor — East Africa, including Kenya and Tanzania Nilaus afer nigritemporalis — Katanga region of DRC and adjacent Zambia

Nilaus afer solivagus — Southern Africa and southern Zambia Its habitat is dry open woodland, but varies geographically. The six northern races and the subspecies N. a. Brubru of southern Africa are found in acacia and broadleaved woodland, whereas the three subspecies in a belt from northeastern Angola and northern Namibia east to Tanzania and northern Mozambique occur in Brachystegia miombo woodland.

The brubru is a small passerine, 12–15 cm long. The adult male of the nominate subspecies, N. a. afer, has a black crown, white supercilium and forehead... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Namib-Naukluft National Park

Bokmakierie
LC

Bokmakierie

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Telophorus zeylonus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Crimson-breasted Gonolek
LC

Crimson-breasted Gonolek

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Laniarius atrococcineus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Brown-crowned Tchagra
LC

Brown-crowned Tchagra

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tchagra australis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Cape Sparrow
LC Endemic

Cape Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Passer melanurus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Cape Wagtail
LC

Cape Wagtail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Motacilla capensis

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
African Red-eyed Bulbul
LC

African Red-eyed Bulbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pycnonotus nigricans

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Familiar Chat
LC

Familiar Chat

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oenanthe familiaris

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Dusky Sunbird
LC

Dusky Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinnyris fuscus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Southern Masked Weaver
LC

Southern Masked Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ploceus velatus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Pied Crow
LC

Pied Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus albus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Pale-winged Starling
LC

Pale-winged Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Onychognathus nabouroup

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Rock Martin
LC

Rock Martin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ptyonoprogne fuligula

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~40%
2 Waterberg Plateau Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~30%
3 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~30%
4 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
5 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~20%
6 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
7 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~20%
8 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~20%
9 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
10 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
11 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~10%
12 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
13 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
14 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~10%
15 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~10%
16 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~10%
17 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
18 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
19 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
20 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
~10%
21 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~10%
22 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~10%
23 Awash National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
~10%
24 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
25 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
26 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
27 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
28 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~10%
29 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
30 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
~10%
31 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~10%
32 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~10%
33 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
~10%
34 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
35 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
36 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
37 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
38 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%
39 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
40 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
41 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
<5%
42 Niokolo-Koba National Park 🇸🇳 Senegal
Insufficient data
43 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
44 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Brubru in Namib-Naukluft National Park?

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Brubru sighting in Namib-Naukluft National Park, based on 72 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Brubru in Namib-Naukluft National Park?

April has the highest sighting rate for Brubru in Namib-Naukluft National Park in our monthly data.

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