Photo: Farid AMADOU BAHLEMAN / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-crested Helmetshrike
Prionops plumatus
White-crested Helmetshrike (Prionops plumatus) — 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 White-crested Helmetshrike (Prionops plumatus) is a member of the Vangidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 33.8 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 Vangidae Vangas & Allies
- Genus Prionops
- Species plumatus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 33.8 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Vangidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-crested 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 White-crested Helmetshrike is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-crested Helmetshrike (Prionops plumatus) is a member of the Vangidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 33.8 g, with a wing length of about 10.8 cm and a tail of around 8.9 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 10.7 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-crested Helmetshrike?
The White-crested Helmetshrike is a small bird that weighs around 33.8 g.
Where does the White-crested Helmetshrike live?
The White-crested Helmetshrike is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the White-crested Helmetshrike belong to?
The White-crested Helmetshrike (Prionops plumatus) belongs to the Vangidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the White-crested Helmetshrike eat?
The White-crested Helmetshrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the White-crested Helmetshrike migrate?
The White-crested Helmetshrike is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-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.
What sound does the White-crested Helmetshrike make?
1 real field recording of the White-crested Helmetshrike — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the White-crested Helmetshrike's range?
The White-crested Helmetshrike has a mapped global range of about 10.7 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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Guides for this bird
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