Malaconotus gladiator
The Green-breasted Bushshrike (*Malaconotus gladiator*) is a large and spectacularly colored passerine, instantly recognizable by its striking plumage and powerful voice. Measuring around 23-26 cm in length and weighing 70-90 grams, it boasts dark olive-green upperparts, brilliant yellow underparts segmented by a vivid green breast band, and a distinctive black head often highlighted by a yellow forehead. Its piercing blood-red eyes and robust, hooked bill are notable field marks, completing ...
Found primarily in humid montane moist forests, dense secondary growth, and forest edges, typically at elevations between 900-2,000 meters above sea level.
Primarily large insects (beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars), other invertebrates, small vertebrates (lizards, chameleons), and occasionally some fruit, foraging by gleaning and sallying.
The Green-breasted Bushshrike is a largely diurnal, yet often elusive, inhabitant of dense forest canopies, preferring to remain hidden despite its vibrant plumage. It employs a varied foraging strategy, actively gleaning large insects like beetles, caterpillars, and grasshoppers from foliage and...
The Green-breasted Bushshrike is an endemic resident of the humid montane forests within the Albertine Rift region of Central Africa. Its breeding and year-round range encompasses specific highland areas of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, western Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. Key locations i...
Least Concern
- The Green-breasted Bushshrike is one of the largest members of the bushshrike family, making it a prominent forest dweller. - Its vibrant green breast contrasting with a yellow belly and black head makes it exceptionally striking, yet it's often heard long before it's seen. - Despite its bright...