The red-naped bushshrike or red-naped boubou is a species of bird in the family Malaconotidae, which is native to the dry lowlands of the eastern Afrotropics.
Region
Horn of Africa and East Africa
Typical Environment
Occupies dry lowland habitats across the eastern Afrotropics, especially in the Horn of Africa and adjacent East Africa. Prefers dense acacia and Commiphora thornbush, dry savanna edges, and thickets along seasonal watercourses. Often uses overgrown field margins, hedgerows, and village scrub where cover is continuous. Avoids open desert and closed forest, favoring tangled understory and mid-level shrubs for foraging and nesting.
Altitude Range
0–1500 m
Climate Zone
Arid
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called the red-naped boubou, this skulking bushshrike is best detected by its rich antiphonal duets, with male and female calling in rapid sequence. The reddish nape patch is often concealed and becomes more visible when the bird is agitated or displaying. Pairs hold territories year-round in dense thorn scrub. Like many bushshrikes, it spends much of its time close to the ground within thick cover.
Temperament
secretive and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually found in pairs that maintain permanent territories within dense shrubbery. Nests are cup-shaped and placed low in thorny bushes, with both sexes sharing incubation and chick-rearing. Pairs often move together through cover, communicating with soft contact notes.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Best known for antiphonal duets—rich, fluted whistles and ringing notes delivered in rapid, alternating sequence by the pair. Also gives harsh scolds and churrs when alarmed, and softer contact calls from within cover.
Plumage
Glossy black upperparts and head with contrasting white underparts and a bold white wing patch; a rufous to chestnut patch on the nape is often partly concealed. Tail is black with some white edging on the outer feathers. Feathers are sleek and smooth, giving a clean, high-contrast appearance.
Diet
Feeds mainly on insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and spiders, occasionally taking small lizards and other arthropods. Forages by gleaning from leaves, bark, and the ground, and may make short sallies to seize prey. Will opportunistically take small fruits or berries when available.
Preferred Environment
Hunts within dense thorn scrub, acacia thickets, and tangled hedgerows where it can move under cover. Frequently forages 0–2 meters above ground and along shaded edges of tracks and dry watercourses.
