Rufous-bellied Helmetshrike
Prionops rufiventris
The Rufous-bellied Helmetshrike (Prionops rufiventris) is a legendary vangas, helmetshrikes, and alli found in 8 countries, weighing about 50 g. The rufous-bellied helmetshrike or Gabon helmetshrike is a passerine bird belonging to the Vanga family, Vangidae.
About the Rufous-bellied Helmetshrike
The rufous-bellied helmetshrike or Gabon helmetshrike is a passerine bird belonging to the Vanga family, Vangidae. It inhabits tropical forest in Central Africa. It is sometimes included within the chestnut-bellied helmetshrike of West Africa.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
It is 20–22 cm long. The adult has glossy black upperparts and throat and reddish-brown underparts with a narrow white breastband. The top and sides of the head and the chin are pale blue-grey and there are bushy whitish feathers on the forehead. The wings are broad and rounded with a white band across the primaries. The bill, legs and feet are orange-red and the eye is yellow with a bare orange-red ring around it. The eastern subspecies P. r. mentalis has darker underparts and a grey-brown eye.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Rufous-bellied Helmetshrike can be seen all year round, with peak activity in February. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Rufous-bellied Helmetshrike?
- It is 20–22 cm long. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Rufous-bellied Helmetshrike?
- The Rufous-bellied Helmetshrike is a small sized bird weighing about 50 g.
- Where can you see a Rufous-bellied Helmetshrike?
- The Rufous-bellied Helmetshrike occurs in 8 countries, including Gabon, Uganda, Congo - Kinshasa, Equatorial Guinea and Congo - Brazzaville.
- What birds look similar to a Rufous-bellied Helmetshrike?
- The Rufous-bellied Helmetshrike is most easily confused with the Gabela Helmetshrike, the Yellow-crested Helmetshrike and the Grey-crested Helmetshrike.
- Is the Rufous-bellied Helmetshrike endangered?
- The Rufous-bellied Helmetshrike is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Rufous-bellied Helmetshrike for real
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