Birds Guide

The helmetshrikes are smallish passerine bird species. They were formerly classed with the true shrikes in the family Laniidae, but are now considered sufficiently distinctive to be separated from that group as the family Prionopidae.

This is an African group of species which are found in scrub or open woodland. They are similar in feeding habits to shrikes, hunting insects and other small prey from a perch on a bush or tree.

Although similar in build to the shrikes, these tend to be colourful species with the distinctive crests or other head ornaments, such as wattles, from which they get their name.

Helmetshrikes are noisy and sociable birds, some of which breed in loose colonies. They lay 2-4 eggs in neat, well-hidden nests.

• Family: Prionopidae
  • White Helmetshrike, Prionops plumatus
    Grey-crested Helmetshrike, Prionops poliolophus
    Yellow-crested Helmetshrike, Prionops alberti
    Chestnut-bellied Helmetshrike, Prionops caniceps
    Retz's Helmetshrike, Prionops retzii
    Angola Helmetshrike, Prionops gabela
    Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike, Prionops scopifrons
    Large Woodshrike, Tephrodornis gularis
    Common Woodshrike, Tephrodornis pondicerianus
    Rufous-winged Philentoma, Philentoma pyrhopterum
    Maroon-breasted Philentoma Philentoma velatum

External links

• Helmetshrike videos on the Internet Bird Collection