Photo: Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Tropical Boubou
Laniarius major
Tropical Boubou (Laniarius major) — 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 Tropical Boubou (Laniarius major) is a member of the Malaconotidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 49.4 g.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Malaconotidae Bushshrikes
- Genus Laniarius
- Species major
Where it lives
Western, central Africa south to southern Zambia and northern, central Mozambique
Quick facts
- Weight
- 49.4 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Malaconotidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Tropical Boubou 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 Tropical Boubou is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Tropical Boubou (Laniarius major) is a species of bird in the Malaconotidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF w, c Africa s to s Zambia and n, c Mozambique.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 49.4 g, with a wing length of about 9.6 cm and a tail of around 9.1 cm.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Tropical Boubou?
The Tropical Boubou is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 49.4 g.
Where does the Tropical Boubou live?
The Tropical Boubou is found across Africa with a range covering AF w, c Africa s to s Zambia and n, c Mozambique, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Tropical Boubou belong to?
The Tropical Boubou (Laniarius major) belongs to the Malaconotidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Tropical Boubou eat?
The Tropical Boubou is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Tropical Boubou migrate?
The Tropical Boubou is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
What sound does the Tropical Boubou make?
1 real field recording of the Tropical Boubou — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
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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