Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Papyrus Gonolek
Laniarius mufumbiri
Papyrus Gonolek (Laniarius mufumbiri) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Papyrus Gonolek (Laniarius mufumbiri) is a member of the Malaconotidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 41.5 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Malaconotidae Bushshrikes
- Genus Laniarius
- Species mufumbiri
Quick facts
- Weight
- 41.5 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Malaconotidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Papyrus Gonolek is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Papyrus Gonolek is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Papyrus Gonolek (Laniarius mufumbiri) belongs to the Malaconotidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Uganda to w Kenya, e DR Congo, Rwanda and Burundi.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 41.5 g, with a wing length of about 9 cm and a tail of around 8.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 99,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Papyrus Gonolek?
The Papyrus Gonolek is a small bird that weighs around 41.5 g.
Where does the Papyrus Gonolek live?
The Papyrus Gonolek is found across Africa with a range covering AF Uganda to w Kenya, e DR Congo, Rwanda and Burundi, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Papyrus Gonolek belong to?
The Papyrus Gonolek (Laniarius mufumbiri) belongs to the Malaconotidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Papyrus Gonolek eat?
The Papyrus Gonolek is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Papyrus Gonolek migrate?
The Papyrus Gonolek is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Papyrus Gonolek endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Papyrus Gonolek make?
1 real field recording of the Papyrus Gonolek — 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 Papyrus Gonolek's range?
The Papyrus Gonolek has a mapped global range of about 99,000 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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