Photo: Hannes van Rooyen / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Retz’s Helmetshrike
Prionops retzii
Retz's Helmetshrike (Prionops retzii) — 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 Retz’s Helmetshrike (Prionops retzii) is a member of the Vangidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 50.1 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 Vangidae Vangas & Allies
- Genus Prionops
- Species retzii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 50.1 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Vangidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Retz’s Helmetshrike 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 Retz’s Helmetshrike is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Retz’s Helmetshrike (Prionops retzii) belongs to the Vangidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF c.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 50.1 g, with a wing length of about 13.2 cm and a tail of around 9.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 4.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Retz’s Helmetshrike?
The Retz’s Helmetshrike is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 50.1 g.
Where does the Retz’s Helmetshrike live?
The Retz’s Helmetshrike is found across Africa with a range covering AF c, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Retz’s Helmetshrike belong to?
The Retz’s Helmetshrike (Prionops retzii) belongs to the Vangidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Retz’s Helmetshrike eat?
The Retz’s Helmetshrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Retz’s Helmetshrike migrate?
The Retz’s Helmetshrike is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Retz’s Helmetshrike 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 Retz’s Helmetshrike make?
1 real field recording of the Retz’s Helmetshrike — including its begging call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Retz’s Helmetshrike's range?
The Retz’s Helmetshrike has a mapped global range of about 4.5 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.
Explore more birds
More in Vangidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.