Helmetshrike
Encyclopedia
The helmetshrikes are smallish passerine
bird
species
. These birds were included with the true shrikes in the family Laniidae, later on split between several presumably closely related groups such as bushshrikes (Malaconotidae) and cuckoo-shrikes (Campephagidae), but are now considered sufficiently distinctive to be separated from that group as the family Prionopidae.
The philentomas were traditionally placed with the Muscicapidae (flycatchers) when these were still used as a "wastebin taxon
", largely as an expedient because these enigmatic birds have long defied ornithologists as regards their systematic placement; they remain little-studied and their placement here is just as provisional as it was in the Muscicapidae but even if they do not really belong here, they are at least not very distant to the Prionopidae.
This is an African and south Asian 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.
Other species, popularly called "shrikes", are in the families:
The Prionopidae and the two former are part of a group which is generally rather homogenous but also includes the diverse vanga
s. The Campephagidae are a bit more distinct.
Passerine
A passerine is a bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds or, less accurately, as songbirds, the passerines form one of the most diverse terrestrial vertebrate orders: with over 5,000 identified species, it has roughly...
bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
. These birds were included with the true shrikes in the family Laniidae, later on split between several presumably closely related groups such as bushshrikes (Malaconotidae) and cuckoo-shrikes (Campephagidae), but are now considered sufficiently distinctive to be separated from that group as the family Prionopidae.
The philentomas were traditionally placed with the Muscicapidae (flycatchers) when these were still used as a "wastebin taxon
Wastebin taxon
Wastebasket taxon is a term used in some taxonomic circles to refer to a taxon that has the sole purpose of classifying organisms that do not fit anywhere else. They are typically defined by their lack of one or more distinct character states or by their not belonging to one or more other taxa...
", largely as an expedient because these enigmatic birds have long defied ornithologists as regards their systematic placement; they remain little-studied and their placement here is just as provisional as it was in the Muscicapidae but even if they do not really belong here, they are at least not very distant to the Prionopidae.
This is an African and south Asian 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.
- Genus PrionopsPrionopsThe typical helmetshrikes, Prionops, form a bird genus in the helmetshrike family Prionopidae. They were for long usually included in the Malaconotidae.They contains the following species:* Yellow-crested Helmet-shrike...
- typical helmetshrikes- White HelmetshrikeWhite HelmetshrikeThe White-crested Helmetshrike , also known as the White Helmetshrike, is a species of passerine bird in the helmetshrike family Prionopidae, formerly usually included in the Malaconotidae.-Distribution and habitat:...
, Prionops plumatus - Grey-crested Helmetshrike, Prionops poliolophus
- Yellow-crested Helmetshrike, Prionops alberti
- Chestnut-bellied HelmetshrikeChestnut-bellied HelmetshrikeThe Chestnut-bellied Helmetshrike or Red-billed Helmetshrike is a species of bird in the helmetshrike family Prionopidae, formerly usually included in the Malaconotidae....
, Prionops caniceps - Retz's HelmetshrikeRetz's HelmetshrikeThe Retz's Helmetshrike is a species of bird in the helmetshrike family Prionopidae, formerly usually included in the Malaconotidae....
, Prionops retzii - Angola Helmetshrike, Prionops gabela
- Chestnut-fronted HelmetshrikeChestnut-fronted HelmetshrikeThe Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike is a species of bird in the helmetshrike family Prionopidae, formerly usually included in the Malaconotidae.It is found in Kenya, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe....
, Prionops scopifrons
- White Helmetshrike
- Genus Tephrodornis - woodshrikes
- Large WoodshrikeLarge WoodshrikeThe Large Woodshrike is a species in the helmetshrike family Prionopidae...
, Tephrodornis gularis - Common WoodshrikeCommon WoodshrikeThe Common Woodshrike is a species in the helmetshrike family Prionopidae. The woodshrikes were formerly placed in the Campephagidae sometimes. It is found in southern Asia where it occurs in Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Burma, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand...
, Tephrodornis pondicerianus
- Large Woodshrike
- Genus Philentoma - philentomas (tentatively placed here)
- Rufous-winged PhilentomaRufous-winged PhilentomaThe Rufous-winged Philentoma is a bird species. Long placed in the flycatcher family when these were used as a "wastebin taxon", they are now tentatively assigned to the Prionopidae pending detailed study....
, Philentoma pyrhopterum - Maroon-breasted PhilentomaMaroon-breasted PhilentomaThe Maroon-breasted Philentoma is a bird species. Long placed in the flycatcher family when these were used as a "wastebin taxon", they are now tentatively assigned to the Prionopidae pending detailed study....
Philentoma velatum
- Rufous-winged Philentoma
Other species, popularly called "shrikes", are in the families:
- Laniidae, shrikes.
- Malaconotidae, puffback shrikes, bush shrikes, tchagras and boubous.
- Campephagidae, cuckoo-shrikes.
The Prionopidae and the two former are part of a group which is generally rather homogenous but also includes the diverse vanga
Vanga
The vangas are a group of little-known small to medium-sized passerine birds restricted to Madagascar and the Comoros. They are usually classified as the family Vangidae. There are about 22 species, depending on taxonomy...
s. The Campephagidae are a bit more distinct.
External links
- Helmetshrike videos on the Internet Bird Collection