Photo: Patty McGann / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Grey-headed Bushshrike
Malaconotus blanchoti
Grey-headed Bushshrike (Malaconotus blanchoti) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Grey-headed Bushshrike (Malaconotus blanchoti) is a member of the Malaconotidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 78.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Malaconotidae Bushshrikes
- Genus Malaconotus
- Species blanchoti
Quick facts
- Weight
- 78.7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Malaconotidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Grey-headed Bushshrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Grey-headed Bushshrike is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Grey-headed Bushshrike (Malaconotus blanchoti) belongs to the Malaconotidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 78.7 g, with a wing length of about 11.7 cm and a tail of around 10.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 7.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Grey-headed Bushshrike?
The Grey-headed Bushshrike is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 78.7 g.
Where does the Grey-headed Bushshrike live?
The Grey-headed Bushshrike is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Grey-headed Bushshrike belong to?
The Grey-headed Bushshrike (Malaconotus blanchoti) belongs to the Malaconotidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Grey-headed Bushshrike eat?
The Grey-headed Bushshrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Grey-headed Bushshrike migrate?
The Grey-headed Bushshrike is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Grey-headed Bushshrike endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Grey-headed Bushshrike make?
1 real field recording of the Grey-headed Bushshrike — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Grey-headed Bushshrike's range?
The Grey-headed Bushshrike has a mapped global range of about 7.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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