Black-backed Puffback

Afrikaans name: Sneeubal

Black-backed Puffback in Kruger National Park

Photo © Steven Herbert

Dryoscopus cubla

The Black-backed Puffback is a member of the Shrike family and used to go under the name of Puffback. This name arises from the males ability to fluff up the white feathers on its back.

The Puffback feeds mainly off insects such as beetles and caterpillars but it will also take termites and some plant food.

The female is the one who builds the nest when a piar is ready to breed. She builds a neat cup structure in a tree or bush. The male does help out a bit by bringing some nesting material. Two or three eggs are laid.

Male and female are similar in looks but the male does show more black on his head and back.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	712	Dryoscopus cubla cubla
2nd	712	Dryoscopus cubla
3rd	712	Dryoscopus cubla
4th	712	Dryoscopus cubla
5th	740	Dryoscopus cubla
6th	740	Dryoscopus cubla
7th	543	Dryoscopus cubla

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	712	Puffback Shrike
2nd	712	Puffback Shrike
3rd	712	Puffback Shrike
4th	712	Puffback Shrike
5th	740	Puffback
6th	740	Puffback
7th	543	Black-backed Puffback

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	712	Sneeubal
2nd	712	Sneeubal
3rd	712	Sneeubal
4th	712	Sneeubal
5th	740	Sneeubal
6th	740	Sneeubal
7th	543	Sneeubal

References and further reading

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 170

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 61

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 57

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 301

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 41

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 51

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 190

Shrikes of Southern Africa - Author: Tony Harris and Graeme Arnott - Published: 0 - Page: 123

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 392

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 647

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 364

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 648

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 494

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 505

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 382

Newman s Garden Birds - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1991 - Page: 90

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 212

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 372

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 372

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 116

Geoff Lockwood s Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Published: 0 - Page: 78

Ian Sinclair s Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 284

Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind - Author: B. Hilton-Barber & Prof. L. R. Berger - Published: 2004 - Page: 187

Everyone s Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 123

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 186

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 232

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 73

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 100

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 108

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 190

Birds of Africa south of the Sahara - Author: Ian Sinclair and Peter Ryan - Published: 2003 - Page: 580

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 248

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 47

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 47

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 267

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds