Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus
As they are shy and retiring birds, much more often heard than seen as they move around in the upper stories of tall trees looking for insect prey, any encounter with the Orange-breasted Bushshrike is a special treat. It is a bird of savanna and woodland thickets and forest margins, often near or along rivers and streams. It is one of the smaller members of the family, measuring only 19cm in length and weighing around 27g. These lovely birds usually move around in monogamous pairs. They build shallow cup-shaped stick nests in trees during the breeding season which stretches from spring to late summer.
The Orange-breasted Bushshrike is widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal in West Africa to here in South Africa, where they are to be found from the Eastern Cape, through Kwazulu-Natal, to Mpumalanga, Limpopo and the North West Province. The IUCN considers this species to be of least concern.
Such shy beauties and hard to see despite that penetrating (and lovely) call. Fantastic that you were able to get these photos showing their gorgeous colour.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much, Carol. Now if only the other kinds of Bushshrikes were so accommodating…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes. How many hours have many of us spent waiting for even a nearby gorgeous bushshrike to show itself?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now that would be a prize photo!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Mooi foto’s soos altyd
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dankie Tina; solank dit die mooie voëltjie goed tentoonstel is ek tevrede.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love that lead image.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much, P J B!
LikeLiked by 1 person
these are delightful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true, thanks Gavin
LikeLike
Beautiful bird!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed, Robert
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a talent to successfully capture so many wonderful shots of this very beautiful bird!! The colors are absolutely luscious!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just very lucky to find a few individuals who aren’t as shy and retiring as most of their kind!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a gorgeous little bird!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They absolutely are, Tracy, but they are not showy about it at all!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fantastic photographs – every one of them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much, Anne – I am grateful they played along!
LikeLike
Wish I could get shots like that of that sweetie tweety!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was just very, very lucky to find a few obliging models, Leslie!
LikeLike
What a pretty little bird, Dries. I love his coloring. He looks like a healthy dose of vitamin C. 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a lovely description; thanks Sylvia!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a beautifully colored bird!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh definitely, Siobhan!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a beautiful bird!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed they are, Deb!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful birds both male and female and thanks for the link to their interesting song . Our little dog pricked up her ears when she heard it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am glad I could find such a good recording on the Internet, Anne – it really wouldn’t have been right to look at pictures of this beauty without listening to their beautiful voice!
LikeLiked by 1 person
How pretty!!
janet
LikeLike
Even more so in real life, Janet!
LikeLike
I bet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Die eerste foto bo-aan vertoon die voël as piepklein. Die ander fotos kan mens mooi sien hy is deel van laksman familie met sy stewige bek!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dis nes jy daar se, Ineke. Klein maar getrain!
LikeLike
het al so gedink toe ek so terug blaai na die eerste foto.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a pretty bird! I am very glad you get some views of this shy bird. And how nice (from a human perspective) to know they form monogamous pairs 🙂
As always, wishing you and your family a wonderful day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Takami – I am thrilled every time I find one of these beauties willing to take a picture or two!
Wishing you and yours a blessed week!
LikeLiked by 1 person