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African Hill Babbler

Sylvia abyssinica (Rüppell, WPES 1840)

The African hill babbler is a species of bird in the family Sylviidae. Source: Wikipedia

Classification
Order:
  Passeriformes
Family:
  Sylviidae
Genus:
   Sylvia
Scientific:
  Sylvia abyssinica

Original description

Citation:
  (Rüppell, WPES 1840)

Reference:
   Neue Wirbelth. Fauna Abyss. Vög. lief 13 p.108 pl.40 fig.2

Protonym:
  Drymophila abyssinica

Type locality:
  Simen Mountains, Begemdir Province, northern Ethiopia.

Link:
  https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/114234#page/188/mode/1up

Avibase identifiers

Avibase ID:
  7C3026CCCD95CF4B

Avibase ID:
  avibase-7C3026CC

Short link:
  https://avibase.ca/7C3026CC

Taxonomic Serial Number:
  TSN: 915903

Geographic range:

  • Sylvia abyssinica: patchy in montane forest understory in western Cameroon and Bioko (Gulf of Guinea), and northern and western Angola, and from central Ethiopia and southern South Sudan southward through eastern Uganda and western Kenya, to southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, southern Tanzania and northern Mozambique
  • Sylvia abyssinica abyssinica: Ethiopia and Sudan to eastern Uganda, southwestern Tanzania, southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Angola
  • Sylvia abyssinica stictigula: Malawi and northern Mozambique
  • Sylvia abyssinica monachus: Mount Cameroon
  • Sylvia abyssinica claudei: Bioko (Gulf of Guinea)
  • Sylvia abyssinica stierlingi: eastern and southern Tanzania
  • Show more...
Source: Clements checklist
English:
Abyssinian Hill-Babbler
Bulgarian:
Абисинско коприварче
Catalan:
timalí africà
Czech:
timálie mniší
Danish:
Afrikansk Skovmunk/Sorthovedet Skovmunk
German:
Hochland-Grasmücke
Esperanto:
abisenia silvio
Spanish:
Curruca Abisinia
Spanish (Spain):
Curruca abisinia
Estonian:
hallpea-põõsalind
Finnish:
ylänkökerttu
French:
Fauvette d'Abyssinie
Croatian:
smeđokrila grmuša
Italian:
Garrulo di collina africano
Japanese (romaji):
afurikakobashichimedori
Japanese:
アビシニアムジチメドリ
Lithuanian:
Abisininė netikroji alcipa
Dutch:
Afrikaanse Grijskop
Norwegian:
Gråhodetimalsanger
Polish:
wyżynniak szary
Portuguese:
Zaragateiro-montes
Portuguese (Portugal):
toutinegra-abissínia
Russian:
Африканская славка-монашка
Slovak:
penica sivohlavá
Serbian:
Afrička brdska grmuša
Swedish:
bergnunnesångare/ruwenzorinunnesångare
Turkish:
Habeş dağ ötleğeni
Ukrainian:
пеніка абісинська
Chinese:
非洲雅鹛
Chinese (Traditional):
阿比西尼亞山雅鶥

Authorities recognizing this taxonomic concept:

Avibase taxonomic concepts (current):
Abyssinian Hill-Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 2023 (May 2023):
Abyssinian Hill-Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 2024 (Oct 2024):
Abyssinian Hill-Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 2025 (Nov 2025):
Abyssinian Hill-Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 01 (August 2013):
Abyssinian Hill-Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 02 (May 2014):
Abyssinian Hill-Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 03 (March 2015):
Abyssinian Hill-Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 04 (Aug 2016):
Abyssinian Hill-Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 05 (Jan 2017):
Abyssinian Hill-Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 06 (Feb 2018):
Abyssinian Hill-Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 07 (Feb 2020):
Abyssinian Hill-Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 08 (Feb 2021):
Abyssinian Hill-Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
Avilist 2025:
African Hill Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 09 (Dec 2016):
African Hill-babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 09.1 (Jun 2017):
African Hill-babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v2 (Dec 2017):
African Hill-babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v3 (Nov 2018):
African Hill-babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v4 (Dec 2019):
African Hill-babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v5 (Dec 2020):
African Hill-babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 2]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v6 (Dec 2021):
African Hill-babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 2]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v6b (Jul 2022):
African Hill-babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 2]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v7 (Dec 2022):
African Hill-babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 2]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v8 (Dec 2023):
African Hill-babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 2]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v9 (Oct 2024):
African Hill-babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 2]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v10 (Oct 2025):
African Hill-babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 2]
Commission internationale pour les noms français des oiseaux (1993):
Akalat à tête sombre ( Illadopsis abyssinica) [version 1]
Clements, version 2021:
African Hill Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
Clements, version 2022:
African Hill Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
Clements, version 2023:
African Hill Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
Clements, version 2024:
African Hill Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
Clements, version 2025:
African Hill Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
Clements 3rd edition:
Abyssinian Hill Babbler ( Alcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
Clements 4th edition:
Abyssinian Hill-Babbler ( Illadopsis abyssinica) [version 1]
Clements, version 2019:
African Hill Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
eBird version 1.54:
African Hill Babbler (African) ( Sylvia abyssinica [abyssinica Group]) [version 1]
eBird version 2019:
African Hill Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
eBird version 2021:
African Hill Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
eBird version 2022:
African Hill Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
eBird version 2023:
African Hill Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
eBird version 2024:
African Hill Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
eBird version 2025:
African Hill Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 2nd edition (incl. ? suppl):
African Hill Babbler ( Illadopsis abyssinicus) [version 1]
Handbook of the Birds of the World (vol 1-16):
African Hill-babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 2]
Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (31/01/2015):
African Hill-babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 2]
Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (03/07/2017):
African Hill-babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 2]
Handbook of the Birds of the World and Birdlife (Dec 2017):
African Hill-babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 2]
Handbook of the Birds of the World and Birdlife (Dec 2018):
African Hill-babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 2]
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.6:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.7:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.0:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.1:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.2:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.3:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.4:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.5:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.6:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.7:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.8:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.9:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.10:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.11:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.1:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.2:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.3:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.4:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.5:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.1:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.2:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.3:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.4:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.1:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.2:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.3:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.4:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.1:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.2:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.3:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.4:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.1:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.2:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.3:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 8.1:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 8.2:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 9.1:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 9.2:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 10.1:
African Hill Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 10.2:
African Hill Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 11.1:
African Hill Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 11.2:
African Hill Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 12.1:
African Hill Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 12.2:
African Hill Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 13.1:
African Hill Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 13.2:
African Hill Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 14.1:
African Hill Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 14.2:
African Hill Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 15.1:
African Hill Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 15.2:
African Hill Babbler ( Sylvia abyssinica) [version 1]
Morony, Bock and Farrand:
Abyssinian Hill-Babbler ( Alcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
Peters' Check-list of the Birds:
Alcippe abyssinica [version 1]
Peters' Check-list of the Birds (original):
Alcippe abyssinica [version 2]
Peters' Check-list of the Birds (2nd edition):
Alcippe abyssinica [version 2]
Sibley and Monroe (1993):
Abyssinian Hill-Babbler ( Illadopsis abyssinica) [version 1]
Sibley and Monroe (1993, including corrections up to 1998):
Abyssinian Hill-Babbler ( Illadopsis abyssinica) [version 1]
Sibley and Monroe, Birds of the World Version 2.0:
Abyssinian Hill-Babbler ( Pseudoalcippe abyssinica) [version 1]
Zoonomen - Zoological Nomenclature Resource:
Illadopsis abyssinica [version 1]
Zoonomen - Zoological Nomenclature Resource:
Pseudoalcippe abyssinica [version 1]

Taxonomic status:

Species status: full species (sometimes nominal subspecies)

This taxon is considered a subspecies of Sylvia [abyssinica or atriceps] (sensu lato) by some authors

Your sightings

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Related taxa

Alternative arrangements:  1  2 

Highlight taxa in a checklist (shown in red)

Other synonyms

See also the taxonomic synonyms table.


Bulgarian: Абисинско коприварче
Catalan: timalí africà
Czech: Timálie mniší
Danish: Afrikansk Skovmunk, Afrikansk Skovmunk/Sorthovedet Skovmunk, Etiopisk Skovtimalie
German: Hochland-Grasmücke, Mönchsalcippe, Mönchsbuschdrossling, Mönchs-Buschdrossling, Schwarzkopfalcippe
English: Abyssinian Fulvetta, Abyssinian Hill Babbler, Abyssinian Hill-Babbler, African Hill Babbler, African Hill Babbler (African), African Hill-Babbler, African Illadopsis, Ethiopian Hill-Babbler, Hill Babbler, Hill-Babbler, Stierling's Hill-Babbler
English (Avilist): African Hill Babbler
English, HBW: African Hill-babbler
English (IOC): African Hill Babbler
English (Kenya): African Hill Babbler
English (United States): African Hill Babbler
Esperanto: abisenia silvio, Afrika montetosilvio
Spanish: Curruca abisinia, Illadopsis Etíope, Timalí Abisinio
Spanish (Spain): Curruca abisinia
Spanish (HBW): African Hill Babbler
Estonian: hallpea-põõsalind
Finnish: Lyijytimali, ylänkökerttu
French: Akalat à tête sombre, Alcippe à tête grise, Alcippe à tête sombre, Fauvette d’Abyssinie, Fauvette d'Abyssinie, Grive-akalat d'Abyssinie, Pseudalcippe d'Abyssinie
French (Guyane): Fauvette d'Abyssinie
Croatian: smeđokrila grmuša
Italian: Garrulo di collina africano, Garrulo di collina d'Abissinia, Garrulo tordo di collina
Japanese (romaji): afurikakobashichimedori
Japanese: アビシニアムジチメドリ, アフリカコバシチメドリ
Scientific: Alcippe abyssinica, Alcippe abyssinicus, Alcippe kilimensis, Curruca abyssinica, Drymophila abyssinica, Illadopsis abyssinica, Illadopsis abyssinicus, Illadopsis abyssinicus abyssinicus, Illadopsis stierlingi, Lioptilys abyssinicus, Pseudoalcippe abyssinica, Pseudoalcippe abyssinica abyssinica, Sylvia abyssinica, Sylvia abyssinica [abyssinica Group], Sylvia abyssinica abyssinica, Sylvia abyssinica stierlingi, Sylvia habessinica, Turdinus stierlingi
Lithuanian: Abisininė netikroji alcipa
Dutch: Afrikaanse Grijskop, Ethiopische Monnikstimalia
Norwegian: Gråhodetimalsanger, Sothodeløvtimal
Polish: pokrzewka szarogłowa, wyzynniak szary, wyżynniak szary
Portuguese: Zaragateiro-montes
Portuguese (Angola): Felosa-das-montanhas
Portuguese (Portugal): toutinegra-abissínia
Russian: Альциппа-монашка, Африканская славка-монашка
Slovak: alkipovec sivý, penica sivohlavá
Serbian: Afrička brdska grmuša
Swedish: bergnunnesångare, bergnunnesångare/ruwenzorinunnesångare, Bergsnunnetimalia
Turkish: Habeş dağ ötleğeni
Ukrainian: пеніка абісинська, Тимелія абісинська
Chinese: 非洲雅鹛
Chinese (Traditional): 阿比西尼亞山雅鶥

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