Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red-billed Helmetshrike
Prionops caniceps
Red-billed Helmetshrike (Prionops caniceps) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Red-billed Helmetshrike (Prionops caniceps) is a member of the Vangidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 48.2 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 Vangidae Vangas & Allies
- Genus Prionops
- Species caniceps
Quick facts
- Weight
- 48.2 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Vangidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Red-billed Helmetshrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Red-billed Helmetshrike is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Red-billed Helmetshrike (Prionops caniceps) is a species of bird in the Vangidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF w.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 48.2 g, with a wing length of about 11.6 cm and a tail of around 7.9 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 892,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red-billed Helmetshrike?
The Red-billed Helmetshrike is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 48.2 g.
Where does the Red-billed Helmetshrike live?
The Red-billed Helmetshrike is found across Africa with a range covering AF w, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Red-billed Helmetshrike belong to?
The Red-billed Helmetshrike (Prionops caniceps) belongs to the Vangidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Red-billed Helmetshrike eat?
The Red-billed Helmetshrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Red-billed Helmetshrike migrate?
The Red-billed Helmetshrike is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Red-billed Helmetshrike 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 Red-billed Helmetshrike make?
1 real field recording of the Red-billed Helmetshrike — 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 Red-billed Helmetshrike's range?
The Red-billed Helmetshrike has a mapped global range of about 892,000 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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