The mountain sooty boubou, western boubou or mountain boubou, is a species of bird in the family Malaconotidae.
Region
Cameroon Highlands and Gulf of Guinea islands
Typical Environment
Found in montane and submontane evergreen forest, forest edges, and dense secondary growth along the Cameroon volcanic line, including Bioko. It keeps close to thickets, vine tangles, and bamboo or bracken stands where cover is dense. The species also uses forest edges near clearings and along streams, especially where shrub layers are well developed.
Altitude Range
800–2500 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
This bushshrike of the family Malaconotidae inhabits cool, montane forests of the Cameroon volcanic line and nearby Gulf of Guinea islands. Pairs are famously vocal and deliver tight, antiphonal duets that can sound like a single bird. It often stays low and hidden in dense undergrowth, making it easier to hear than to see. Some authorities have historically lumped or split it within the sooty boubou complex.
Temperament
secretive and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats through understory; reluctant long flights
Social Behavior
Usually found in pairs that maintain year-round territories. Pairs forage close together and engage in frequent duetting. The nest is a neat cup hidden in dense shrubs or low saplings, and both adults help rear the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Rich, fluty whistles delivered as precisely timed male–female duets, often sounding like a single bird. Calls include sharp tchik notes and mellow phrases repeated from concealed perches.
