Brubru

Nilaus afer

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
FamilyMalaconotidae (Bushshrikes and Allies)
GenusNilaus
SpeciesNilaus afer (Brubru)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Niokolo-Koba National Park

2 Verified sightings at Niokolo-Koba National Park From 2019 to 2026

5,761 Verified sightings across all 44 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ 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 Niokolo-Koba National Park

Laniarius barbarus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Dryoscopus gambensis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Malaconotus blanchoti

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Tchagra senegalus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Lamprotornis caudatus

Daily sighting probability ~90% · Very likely

Pycnonotus barbatus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Lamprotornis purpureus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Cinnyris pulchellus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Lagonosticta senegala

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Motacilla aguimp

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Passer griseus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Turdoides plebejus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

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

← Back to Niokolo-Koba National Park

Brubru

About the Brubru

Recent sightings of Brubru in Niokolo-Koba National Park

Closest Relatives at Niokolo-Koba National Park

Yellow-crowned Gonolek

Northern Puffback

Gray-headed Bushshrike

Black-crowned Tchagra

Long-tailed Glossy Starling

Common Bulbul

Purple Glossy-Starling

Beautiful Sunbird

Red-billed Firefinch

African Pied Wagtail

Northern Grey-headed Sparrow

Brown Babbler

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found