Red-tailed Leaflove (Phyllastrephus scandens) [XC674430]
by Richard Hoyer from Chinko Nature Reserve, Rafai, Mbomou, Central African Republic (call)
Red-tailed Leaflove (Phyllastrephus scandens) [XC453035]
by Mathias D'haen from Djibelor, Ziguinchor, Casamance, Senegal (song)
Subspecies
Has been suggested as forming superspecies with Fischer's Greenbul (Phyllastrephus fischeri) and Cabanis's Greenbul (Phyllastrephus cabanisi), but relationship seems remote and, further, it differs in plumage and colour pattern. On basis of bill shape, voice and behaviour, appears more closely allied to Swamp Greenbul (Thescelocichla leucopleura) and Yellow-throated Greenbul (Atimastillas flavicollis).
Proposed subspecies acedis (described from R Ogobai, in Gabon) and upembae (southern DRCongo) considered not satisfactorily distinguishable from orientalis (former on average darker above with more rufous tail, latter with paler browner tail).
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
scandens Swainson, 1837 - Gambia and south-western Senegal, eastern Guinea-Bissau and western Guinea east to northern Cameroon.
orientalis (Hartlaub, 1883) - Northern Cameroon east to extreme southern Sudan, and south to southern PRCongo and western and southern DRCongo (scattered localities in Kwango, Kasai and Katanga). Also central Uganda, extreme north-eastern Rwanda and extreme western Tanzania.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet