Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Gorgeous Bushshrike
Telophorus viridis
Gorgeous Bushshrike (Telophorus viridis) — 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 Gorgeous Bushshrike (Telophorus viridis) is a member of the Malaconotidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 37.1 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 Malaconotidae Bushshrikes
- Genus Telophorus
- Species viridis
Where it lives
Western Africa to southeastern Kenya, eastern Tanzania south to South Africa and Swaziland
Quick facts
- Weight
- 37.1 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Malaconotidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Gorgeous Bushshrike 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 Gorgeous Bushshrike is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Gorgeous Bushshrike (Telophorus viridis) belongs to the Malaconotidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF w Africa to se Kenya, e Tanzania s to South Africa and Swaziland.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 37.1 g, with a wing length of about 8.3 cm and a tail of around 8.4 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 1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Gorgeous Bushshrike?
The Gorgeous Bushshrike is a small bird that weighs around 37.1 g.
Where does the Gorgeous Bushshrike live?
The Gorgeous Bushshrike is found across Africa with a range covering AF w Africa to se Kenya, e Tanzania s to South Africa and Swaziland, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Gorgeous Bushshrike belong to?
The Gorgeous Bushshrike (Telophorus viridis) belongs to the Malaconotidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Gorgeous Bushshrike eat?
The Gorgeous Bushshrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Gorgeous Bushshrike migrate?
The Gorgeous Bushshrike is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Gorgeous 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 Gorgeous Bushshrike make?
1 real field recording of the Gorgeous Bushshrike can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Gorgeous Bushshrike's range?
The Gorgeous Bushshrike has a mapped global range of about 1 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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