Prionops retzii
Retz's Helmetshrike is a striking and highly social passerine bird, instantly recognizable by its glossy black plumage contrasted with a white belly, rufous flanks, and a prominent white patch on its primaries visible in flight. Its most distinctive features are its piercing deep yellow to orange-red eyes, encircled by a fleshy, bright red-orange wattle or casque that extends onto its forehead. Measuring 19-24 cm (7.5-9.5 inches) in length and weighing 30-50 grams, it is a medium-sized bird w...
Primarily inhabits broadleaf woodlands, including Miombo and Mopane, and savanna woodlands, typically favoring areas with tall trees and moderate undergrowth from lowlands up to 1,500m.
Feeds predominantly on large insects such as caterpillars, grasshoppers, beetles, and termites, supplemented by spiders and other invertebrates, occasionally taking small vertebrates or fruit. Forages by gleaning from foliage and bark, and by flycatching in the air.
Retz's Helmetshrikes are exceptionally social and diurnal, moving through the canopy in noisy family parties or small flocks of 3-10 individuals, often joining mixed-species foraging flocks. They are active insect gleaners, meticulously searching foliage, bark, and branches, and also engage in ae...
Retz's Helmetshrike is a resident species found across a broad region of sub-Saharan Africa. Its distribution extends from southern Angola, southern Democratic Republic of Congo, and southern Kenya, south through Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Eswatini, and int...
Least Concern
- The 'helmet' in their name refers to a fleshy, bright red-orange wattle above their eyes, not a feathered crest. - They are one of the most well-studied cooperative breeding birds in Africa, with entire family groups dedicated to raising the young. - Despite their shrike-like appearance and nam...