Red-tailed leaflove
species of bird
The red-tailed leaflove (Phyllastrephus scandens) is a species of leaflove in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is mainly native to the African tropical rainforest.
Taxonomy and systematics
Although originally described in the genus Phyllastrephus, the red-tailed leaflove was briefly transferred to the former genus Pyrrhurus (now subsumed into Phyllastrephus) during the period 2009-2010 by the IOC. Some other authorities continue to classify the red-tailed leaflove in the genus Pyrrhurus. Alternate names for the red-tailed leaflove include the African leaflove, common leaflove, leaflove and plain leaflove.
Subspecies
Two subspecies are recognized:
Uele leaflove (P. s. scandens) - Swainson, 1837: Found from Gambia and Senegal to northern Cameroon
Gabon leaflove (P. s. orientalis) - (Hartlaub, 1883): Originally described as a separate species in the genus Xenocichla (a synonym for Bleda). Found from northern Cameroon to southern Sudan, central Uganda, western Tanzania and southern Democratic Republic of the Congo
Distribution and habitat
The red-tailed leaflove is found across western and central Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and moist savanna.
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