Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus
A vibrant avian gem of sub-Saharan Africa, the Orange-breasted Bushshrike (*Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus*) measures a modest 18-20 cm (7.1-7.9 in) and weighs between 26-36 g (0.9-1.3 oz). Its striking plumage features a brilliant orange breast, a rich olive-green back and wings, and a contrasting bright yellow belly, making it one of the most vividly colored bushshrikes. A distinctive black mask extends through the eye to the bill, sharply outlined above by a fine white supercilium, serving a...
Primarily inhabiting woodlands, savannas, thickets, and forest edges, this species prefers areas with dense undergrowth and riparian vegetation. It can be found from lowland plains up to mid-elevations of around 2000 meters in certain regions.
Its diet consists mainly of insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, and caterpillars, supplemented by other invertebrates and occasionally small lizards. Foraging involves gleaning prey from foliage, aerial hawking, and ground-pouncing.
Typically a diurnal and often elusive bird, the Orange-breasted Bushshrike spends much of its time hidden within dense foliage, although males will sing from prominent perches. It forages primarily by gleaning insects from leaves and branches, but also makes aerial sallies to catch flying prey an...
The Orange-breasted Bushshrike boasts a wide and largely continuous distribution across sub-Saharan Africa, stretching from Senegal and Gambia in the west, eastward through the Sahel region to Ethiopia, and south through East Africa into Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and eastern South A...
Least Concern
- Despite its bright colors, the Orange-breasted Bushshrike is notoriously difficult to spot, often heard but not seen due to its skulking habits. - Male and female birds engage in complex, perfectly synchronized vocal duets, a hallmark of many bushshrike species. - Its scientific name, *sulfureo...