Mount Kupe bushshrike

The Mount Kupe bushshrike is a species of bird in the family Malaconotidae. It was previously thought to be endemic to Cameroon, where it is found in the Bakossi Forest Reserve and in particular on Mount Kupe, where it has been known to attract ecotourists. In 2011 it was reported to be present in two sites in south east Nigeria.

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Distribution

Region

Gulf of Guinea Highlands

Typical Environment

Occurs in submontane to montane evergreen forests, especially on steep, humid slopes with dense understorey and vine tangles. It favors mature forest and well-developed secondary growth with thick mid-story. Birds keep to shaded interior and forest edges, moving through lianas and tangles. Outside Cameroon it has been recorded at a few forested highland sites in southeastern Nigeria.

Altitude Range

800–2000 m

Climate Zone

Highland

Characteristics

Size20–22 cm

Wing Span25–30 cm

Male Weight0.06 kg

Female Weight0.055 kg

Life Expectancy8 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

A highly localized bushshrike of the family Malaconotidae, it was long thought to be restricted to Mount Kupe and nearby Bakossi forests in southwestern Cameroon, with later records from two sites in southeastern Nigeria. It is notoriously elusive and often detected more by voice than by sight, which has helped it attract specialist ecotourists. Ongoing habitat loss and fragmentation are the chief threats to its survival.

Behaviour

Temperament

secretive and territorial

Flight Pattern

short rapid flights through dense cover

Social Behavior

Usually encountered singly or in pairs within well-defined territories. Likely monogamous, with pairs maintaining contact through duets. Nests are assumed to be placed low to mid-level in dense vegetation, as in related bushshrikes.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

Vocalizations are rich, ringing whistles and mellow phrases, often delivered as antiphonal duets between pair members. Calls carry well through dense forest and are the primary means of detection.

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Identification

Leg Colorunknown

Eye Colorunknown

Plumage

unknown

Feeding Habits

Diet

Feeds mainly on insects and other arthropods such as beetles, caterpillars, and spiders. It may occasionally take small vertebrates or other small invertebrates when available. Prey is gleaned from foliage and branches or snatched on short sallies within the mid-story.

Preferred Environment

Forages in dense mid-story and lower canopy of humid montane forest, especially in vine tangles and along edges of clearings and trails. Often keeps to shaded, secluded spots within intact forest.

Population

Total Known Populationunknown

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