Alternative name: Gabon Helmetshrike
- Prionops rufiventris
Identification
Length 20-22 cm. Blue-grey lores and crown; glossy-black upperparts; grey throat, white breast and rufous belly. It has a red bill, yellow eye and orange eye wattle.
Similar species
Red-billed Helmetshrike, which has a black throat and buffy belly.
Distribution
Africa
Western Africa found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo, DRC, Angola
Eastern Africa: Uganda
Taxonomy
Subspecies[1]
- P. r. rufiventris:
- Southern Cameroon and Central African Republic to Congo and north-western DRC
- P. r. mentalis:
Habitat
Lowland and mid-altitude forest.
Behaviour
Found in small family groups; joins multi-species flocks.
Vocalization
A variety of bubbling, popping and churring sounds.
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Sinclair, I and P Ryan. 2003. Birds of Africa South of the Sahara. Princeton: Princeton Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0691118154
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Rufous-bellied Helmetshrike. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 7 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Rufous-bellied_Helmetshrike
