Olive Bushshrike
NameOlive Bushshrike
Common NameOlive Bushshrike
Scientific NameChlorophoneus olivaceus
FamilyMalaconotidae
Wingspan (cm)26.5
Length (cm)18
Weight (g)30
Plumage DetailsUpperparts are olive-green. The head is grey with a prominent black mask extending from the lores through the eye, bordered above by a white supercilium. The throat and breast are rufous-orange, fading to olive-yellow on the belly, and the underwing coverts are yellow.
Vocalization / CallKnown for its distinctive, often melancholic, whistling calls. A common call is a series of clear, whistled notes, sometimes described as 'hoo-hoo-hoo' or 'whee-whee-whee-whoo'.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in eastern and southern Africa, from Kenya south through Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, and eastern South Africa.
Identifying FeaturesOlive-green upperparts, Grey head with black mask, White supercilium, Rufous throat and breast, Yellow underwing coverts, Distinctive whistling call
Description
The Olive Bushshrike is a medium-sized passerine bird characterized by its shy nature and preference for dense vegetation. It forages primarily for insects within the undergrowth, often detected more by its distinctive calls than by sight.
