Silhouette: Martin Bulla, based on François Desbordes' illustration · PhyloPic

White-browed Scrub Robin

Erythropygia leucophrys

Silhouette: Martin Bulla, based on François Desbordes' illustration · PhyloPic

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
FamilyMuscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers, Robins, and Chats)
GenusErythropygia
SpeciesErythropygia leucophrys (White-browed Scrub Robin)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Nyungwe National Park

1 Verified sightings at Nyungwe National Park From 2019 to 2026

9,294 Verified sightings across all 48 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the White-browed Scrub Robin

The white-browed scrub robin (Cercotrichas leucophrys), also known as the red-backed scrub-robin, is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is native to sub-Saharan Africa, especially East and southern Africa. Within range, its Turdus-like song is one of the often-heard sounds of the bush. The flitting of the tail is characteristic of this species, but also of some near relatives.

Louis Pierre Vieillot described the white-browed scrub robin in 1817. The specific epithet is derived from the Ancient Greek words leukos "white" and ǒphrys "eyebrow". For the white-browed scrub robin, some 9 to 12 subspecies are recognized: Two groups of subspecies are recognised, namely the 'white-winged' group of arid country, and the 'red-backed' group of mesic to moist habitats. Intergradation between these is apparently limited to subspecies brunneiceps and vulpina around Simba, Kenya. Otherwise the variation is clinal, though the extremes may be quite distinct.

C. l. leucoptera (Rüppell, 1845) – arid woodlands, from South Sudan to Lake Turkana and Horn of Africa C. l. eluta (Bowen, 1934) – dry woodlands, from Ethiopia to s Somalia... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Nyungwe National Park

Erythropygia hartlaubi

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Muscicapa adusta

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Dioptrornis fischeri

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Saxicola torquatus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Pogonocichla stellata

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Melaenornis ardesiacus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Sheppardia aequatorialis

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Muscicapa caerulescens

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Cossypha archeri

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Chamaetylas poliophrys

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Muscicapa striata

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Monticola angolensis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

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	Waterberg Plateau Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	~50%
2	Nairobi National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~50%
3	Ruaha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~40%
4	Gonarezhou National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~40%
5	Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~30%
6	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~30%
7	Kruger National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~30%
8	Samburu National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	~20%
9	Kafue National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~20%
10	Pilanesberg National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~20%
11	Etosha National Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	~20%
12	Kidepo Valley National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~20%
13	Awash National Park	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	~20%
14	Lake Manyara National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~20%
15	Mkomazi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~20%
16	Lake Mburo National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~20%
17	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~20%
18	Meru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~20%
19	Gorongosa National Park	🇲🇿 Mozambique	~20%
20	Hwange National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~20%
21	Akagera National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	~10%
22	Mana Pools National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~10%
23	Tarangire National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~10%
24	Serengeti National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~10%
25	Amboseli National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~10%
26	Ngorongoro Conservation Area	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~10%
27	Addo Elephant National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
28	Chobe National Park	🇧🇼 Botswana	~10%
29	Arusha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~10%
30	iSimangaliso Wetland Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
31	Lower Zambezi National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~10%
32	South Luangwa National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~10%
33	Moremi Game Reserve	🇧🇼 Botswana	~10%
34	Masai Mara National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	~10%
35	Murchison Falls National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~10%
36	Queen Elizabeth National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	<5%
37	Mikumi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
38	Liwonde National Park	🇲🇼 Malawi	<5%
39	Lake Nakuru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
40	Virunga National Park	🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo	<5%
41	Kibale National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	<5%
42	Bwindi Impenetrable National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	<5%
43	Selous Game Reserve	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
44	Golden Gate Highlands National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data
45	Semuliki National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
46	Volcanoes National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	Insufficient data
47	Garden Route National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data
48	Nyungwe National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	Insufficient data

← Back to Nyungwe National Park

White-browed Scrub Robin

About the White-browed Scrub Robin

Recent sightings of White-browed Scrub Robin in Nyungwe National Park

Closest Relatives at Nyungwe National Park

Brown-backed Scrub Robin

African Dusky Flycatcher

White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher

African Stonechat

White-starred Robin

Yellow-eyed Black-Flycatcher

Equatorial Akalat

Ashy Alseonax

Archer's Robin-Chat

Red-throated Alethe

Spotted Flycatcher

Miombo Rock-Thrush

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found