Grey-headed Bushshrike
Malaconotus blanchoti
Woodland. Grey hood; heavy, hooked bill; upperparts green; below yellow; breast orange; eyes yellow.
Bush-Shrikes
LC
Not Endemic
Description
Fairly common resident. Identified by large size, very heavy bill and white patch in front of yellow eye. Immature has a horn-coloured bill. The most characteristic call is a haunting, drawn-out ‘hooooooooooop’; also utters a ‘clip-clip…’ sound. Occurs singly or in pairs in coastal and lowland forest, riverine forests, mixed bushveld and thornveld. Usually feeds in the mid- and lower strata. A ferocious predator, preying on insects, reptiles, bats and even other birds.
Quick Facts
Size
25-27 cm - M
Names
A: Spookvoël
Z: usipoki
G: Graukopfwürger, Riesenbuschwürger
Bird Family
Colourful shrikes with olive-green and grey upperparts and yellow or orange-yellow underparts. Most inhabit dense bush, making them difficult to see, continuously hopping from branch to branch. Their diet is mainly insects, although some will eat fruit or small animals. All have distinctive calls, which aids identification.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
