Photo: Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-headed Gonolek
Laniarius erythrogaster
Black-headed Gonolek (Laniarius erythrogaster) — 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 Black-headed Gonolek (Laniarius erythrogaster) is a member of the Malaconotidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 48.8 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 Laniarius
- Species erythrogaster
Where it lives
Eastern Nigeria and northern Cameroon to Eritrea, western Ethiopia, western Kenya, northern Tanzania and eastern DR Congo
Quick facts
- Weight
- 48.8 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Malaconotidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Endangered
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-headed Gonolek is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Black-headed Gonolek is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-headed Gonolek (Laniarius erythrogaster) is a member of the Malaconotidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF e Nigeria and n Cameroon to Eritrea, w Ethiopia, w Kenya, n Tanzania and e DR Congo.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 48.8 g, with a wing length of about 9.7 cm and a tail of around 8.7 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 2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-headed Gonolek?
The Black-headed Gonolek is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 48.8 g.
Where does the Black-headed Gonolek live?
The Black-headed Gonolek is found across Africa with a range covering AF e Nigeria and n Cameroon to Eritrea, w Ethiopia, w Kenya, n Tanzania and e DR Congo, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Black-headed Gonolek belong to?
The Black-headed Gonolek (Laniarius erythrogaster) belongs to the Malaconotidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-headed Gonolek eat?
The Black-headed Gonolek is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Black-headed Gonolek migrate?
The Black-headed Gonolek is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-headed Gonolek 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 Black-headed Gonolek make?
1 real field recording of the Black-headed Gonolek — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-headed Gonolek's range?
The Black-headed Gonolek has a mapped global range of about 2 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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