The red-naped bushshrike or red-naped boubou (Laniarius ruficeps) is a species of bird in the family Malaconotidae, which is native to the dry lowlands of the eastern Afrotropics.

Red-naped bushshrike
L. r. kismayensis (top)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Malaconotidae
Genus: Laniarius
Species:
L. ruficeps
Binomial name
Laniarius ruficeps
(Shelley, 1885)
Synonyms

Dryoscopus ruficeps Shelley, 1885

Range and habitat

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It is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. Its natural habitat is subtropical and tropical dry shrubland, under 1,000 m (3,300 ft) above sea level.

Habits

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It is a shy and skulking bird,[2] that forages on the ground and in the lower strata of dense thickets and thornbush.[3] It sings just after sunrise from a bushtop. They have various harsh and repetitive calls, which includes dueting.[2]

Subspecies

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There are three accepted subspecies:[3]

  • L. r. ruficeps (Shelley, 1885) – northern Somalia
Description: Crown to hindneck bright orange-rufous to rufous-red, forecrown black[3]
  • L. r. rufinuchalis (Sharpe, 1895) – Ethiopia, central Somalia and Kenya
Description: Forecrown black[2]
  • L. r. kismayensis (Erlanger, 1901) – coastal Somalia and Kiunga, Kenya
Description: Forecrown orange-red[2]

References

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  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Laniarius ruficeps". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22707518A94128270. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22707518A94128270.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Zimmerman, Dale A.; et al. (1999). Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania. Princeton University Press. pp. 218, 617. ISBN 0691010226.
  3. ^ a b c Fry, H. (2017). "Red-naped bush-shrike (Laniarius ruficeps)". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Retrieved 14 April 2015.