Photo: Steve Garvie from Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Grey-crested Helmetshrike
Prionops poliolophus
Grey-crested Helmetshrike (Prionops poliolophus) — 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 Grey-crested Helmetshrike (Prionops poliolophus) is a member of the Vangidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 49 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 poliolophus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 49 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Vangidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Grey-crested Helmetshrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Grey-crested Helmetshrike is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Grey-crested Helmetshrike (Prionops poliolophus) is a member of the Vangidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF sw Kenya and w Tanzania.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 49 g, with a wing length of about 13.1 cm and a tail of around 10.1 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 53,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Grey-crested Helmetshrike?
The Grey-crested Helmetshrike is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 49 g.
Where does the Grey-crested Helmetshrike live?
The Grey-crested Helmetshrike is found across Africa with a range covering AF sw Kenya and w Tanzania, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Grey-crested Helmetshrike belong to?
The Grey-crested Helmetshrike (Prionops poliolophus) belongs to the Vangidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Grey-crested Helmetshrike eat?
The Grey-crested Helmetshrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Grey-crested Helmetshrike migrate?
The Grey-crested Helmetshrike is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Grey-crested 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.
How large is the Grey-crested Helmetshrike's range?
The Grey-crested Helmetshrike has a mapped global range of about 53,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Vangidae
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Endangered
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
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.