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Overview
Lagden's bushshrike

Lagden's bushshrike

Wikipedia

Lagden's bushshrike is a bird species in the bushshrike family (Malaconotidae) native to Africa. It is a stocky bird with yellow or orange-yellow underparts, olive green upperparts, a grey head and heavy bill. Two subspecies are recognised, one found in west Africa and one in central Africa.

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Distribution

Region

West and Central Africa

Typical Environment

Occurs in the Upper Guinea forests from Sierra Leone and Liberia through Côte d’Ivoire into Ghana, and disjunctly in Central Africa from southeastern Nigeria and Cameroon through Gabon, Congo, and into the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It inhabits primary and mature secondary lowland rainforest, gallery forest, and foothill to montane forest. The species favors dense undergrowth, vine tangles, and forest edges where it can hunt from concealed perches. It is local and patchy, often tied to well-forested tracts.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 2400 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size22–26 cm
Wing Span28–34 cm
Male Weight0.08 kg
Female Weight0.075 kg
Life Expectancy8 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

Lagden's bushshrike is a secretive forest bird of West and Central Africa, often heard before it is seen. It gives rich, fluty whistles and may duet, with pairs keeping close contact in dense cover. Two subspecies occur: one in the Upper Guinea forests of West Africa and another in Central African forests, differing subtly in hue. Habitat loss from logging and forest fragmentation is the main threat to its persistence.

Gallery

Bird photo
Bird photo

Behaviour

Temperament

solitary and territorial

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats

Social Behavior

Usually found singly or in pairs, keeping to dense foliage and mid-understory. Pairs maintain territories and communicate with soft contact calls and duets. Nests are typically cup-shaped and placed low to mid-level in thick vegetation; both sexes likely share parental duties. Joins mixed-species flocks occasionally but remains inconspicuous.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

Song is a series of rich, fluty whistles, often delivered slowly and with clear, carrying notes. Pairs may duet with alternating phrases, and birds also give harsh scolds when alarmed.

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