Malaconotus is a genus of passerine birds in the bush-shrike family Malaconotidae, which is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. Their Greek generic name suggests fluffy back and rump feathers.[1]
All are large-bodied with robust legs and feet, and formidable shrike-like bills.[1] As in other Malacotini, the upper mandible (maxilla) has a subterminal tooth, opposing a notch on the lower mandible. Both nasal and rictal bristles are present, and they are unique in their family in having syndactyl feet (3rd and 4th digits fused).[1] They have 10 primaries and 12 rectrices like others of their family. The sexes are similar in appearance, but have dissimilar calls.
They form monogamous pairs that live fairly sedentary in woodlands or tropical forest. They are very vocal, but their duetting is poorly developed compared to the related genus Telophorus. Their displays include bill-snapping, a habit shared with helmetshrikes (and some vangas of Madagascar), which however differ in their social foraging habits and cooperative breeding. Malaconotus bushshrikes breed solitarily, lay a small clutch (5 maximum) of elongate eggs, and their chicks are altricial.[1]
They likely occupy a basal position in the family.[1] About 60% of the species formerly placed here are now usually separated in Telophorus or Chlorophoneus. The old taxonomy is also often found though.
Malaconotus sensu stricto contains the following species:
| Image | Scientific name | Common Name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malaconotus cruentus | Fiery-breasted bushshrike | equatorial Africa, from Sierra Leone to western Uganda | |
| Malaconotus lagdeni | Lagden's bushshrike | Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo | |
| Malaconotus gladiator | Green-breasted bushshrike | Cameroon and adjacent Nigeria | |
| Malaconotus blanchoti | Grey-headed bushshrike | Sub-Saharan Africa, although relatively absent in Central and Southern Africa | |
| Malaconotus monteiri | Monteiro's bushshrike | Angola and Cameroon | |
| Malaconotus alius | Uluguru bushshrike | Uluguru Mountains in Tanzania | |