Malaconotus lagdeni
The Lagden's Bushshrike (Malaconotus lagdeni) is a striking and remarkably elusive passerine bird belonging to the Malaconotidae family, known for their vibrant plumage and powerful calls. Measuring approximately 23-26 cm (9-10 inches) in length and weighing around 70-80 grams, it boasts a distinctive plumage of dark olive-green upperparts, bright yellow underparts, a conspicuous broad black mask across the eyes, and a robust, hooked black bill. Its piercing red eyes provide a vivid contrast ...
This bushshrike primarily inhabits dense submontane and montane evergreen forests, typically at elevations ranging from 700 to 2,500 meters, preferring the middle and upper strata of the canopy.
Its diet primarily consists of large insects, such as beetles, grasshoppers, and caterpillars, supplemented by small vertebrates like lizards, chameleons, and occasionally small birds, which it ambushes and gleans from foliage.
Lagden's Bushshrike is a largely solitary or pair-dwelling diurnal bird, often remaining hidden within the dense foliage, making visual encounters challenging. It forages by gleaning insects and small vertebrates from branches and leaves, often making short, powerful flights to ambush prey or dro...
The Lagden's Bushshrike is a non-migratory resident species with a highly fragmented distribution across several montane forest blocks in West and Central Africa. Its range includes isolated populations in Sierra Leone (Loma Mountains), Liberia (Wologizi and Nimba Mountains), southeastern Nigeria...
Near Threatened
- The Lagden's Bushshrike was named after Sir Godfrey Lagden, a British colonial administrator in Africa. - Despite its striking yellow and green plumage, it is notoriously difficult to spot, often only revealed by its loud, penetrating calls. - Its calls are so powerful and far-carrying that the...