Grey-headed Bush-shrike

Afrikaans name: Spookvoel

Grey-headed Bush-shrike

Photo © Steven Herbert

Malaconotus blanchoti

I love the Afrikaans name of Spookvoel for this beautiful bird. It means "ghost bird" and refers to its mournful call which can often be heard and yet you can't see the bird responsible for it.

The Grey-headed Bush-shrike, like the other Bush-shrikes, is both colourful and elusive. It's hard to believe that these colourful birds can be so difficult to spot. They do, however, prefer thick bush and trees where they look for insects on the branches and leaves.

They are found over most of the eastern half of South Africa and much of sub-Saharan Africa.

Although these birds eat a lot of insects they are ferocious hunters for their size and have been known to kill snakes up to a metre in length. Other species of birds are also on their menu.

Between 2 and 4 eggs are laid in a nest made by the female who uses materials collected by the male. The nest is normally placed a few metres off the ground in a tree.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	723	Malaconotus poliocephalus hypopyrrhus
2nd	723	Malaconotus poliocephalus
3rd	723	Malaconotus hypopyrrhus
4th	723	Malaconotus hypopyrrhus
5th	751	Malaconotus blanchoti
6th	751	Malaconotus blanchoti
7th	557	Malaconotus blanchoti

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	723	Grey-headed Bush Shrike
2nd	723	Grey-headed Bush Shrike
3rd	723	Grey-headed Bush Shrike
4th	723	Grey-headed Bush Shrike
5th	751	Greyheaded Bush Shrike
6th	751	Greyheaded Bush Shrike
7th	557	Grey-headed Bush-Shrike

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	723	Spookvoël
2nd	723	Spookvoël
3rd	723	Spookvoël
4th	723	Spookvoël
5th	751	Spookvoël
6th	751	Spookvoël
7th	557	Spookvoël

References and further reading

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 307

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 172

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 83

Shrikes of Southern Africa - Author: Tony Harris and Graeme Arnott - Published: 0 - Page: 112

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 362

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 398

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 660

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 658

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 514

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 388

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 502

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 216

More Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: P. Ginn & G. McIlleron - Published: 1981 - Page: 47

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 380

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 380

go! - Issue 140 - Author: - Published: 2018 - Page: 25

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 282

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 190

Geoff Lockwoods Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Published: 0 - Page: 72

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 109

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 236

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 72

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 194

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 252

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 50

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 270

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 50

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds