tags: Black-fronted Bush-Shrike, Black-fronted Bushshrike, Chlorophoneus nigrifrons, Telophorus nigrifrons, Laniarius nigrifrons, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Black-fronted Bush-Shrike, Chlorophoneus (Laniarius) (Telophorus) nigrifrons, photographed in the East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania, Africa. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Dan Logen, 12 January 2010 [larger view].
Nikon D300, 600 mm lens, ISO 800, F/5.6, 1/200 sec.
This is a challenging bird to identify, so I am asking you to instead try to identify the taxonomic family.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
The Black-fronted Bushshrike (Chlorophoneus nigrifrons) is a passerine of the bushshrike family, Malaconotidae. It has been classified into several different genera, including Telophorus and Laniarius. It forms a superspecies with the Many-coloured Bushshrike (C. multicolor) and the two are sometimes considered to be a single species. There are three color morphs of these birds, each of which is thought to be a subspecies. It inhabits forests in Southern and Eastern Africa.
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A Dark-Backed Weaver - Dark red eyes
This reminds me of a badly pruned shrub (butchered maybe).
The hooked bill is the give-away.
I think Adrian nailed the family (procrastination by a man-eating monster?). The mask that wraps around the bird's forehead identifies the species complex.
Yes Carel, The colour of the mask where it meets on the forehead also gives us the species involved here.
i thinks....
Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Muscicapidae
Genus: Niltava
Some kind of shrike or flycatcher? He has a very shrike-y head (independent of butcher remarks above...not sure if that is confirmation of my theory or not).
Tledekan, Niltavas are Asian flycatchers and are not found in Africa.
Jana, Yes it's a member of the Shrike family (Laniidae), although not a true shrike. There does seem to be some disagreement as to the genus amongst the "authorities", with both Telephorus and Chlorophoneus being used.
Tledekan, Niltavas are Asian flycatchers and are not found in Africa.
Jana, Yes it's a member of the Shrike family (Laniidae), although not a true shrike. There does seem to be some disagreement as to the genus amongst the "authorities", with both Telephorus and Chlorophoneus being used.
This may not post properly as I have received a msg saying I have made too many posts!