Gray-headed Bushshrike
Gray-headed BushshrikeGray-headed BushshrikeGray-headed BushshrikeGray-headed Bushshrike

Gray-headed Bushshrike

Malaconotus blanchoti

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
<5% · Rare
overall probability at iSimangaliso Wetland Park
36 Verified records at iSimangaliso Wetland Park
August Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The grey-headed bushshrike (Malaconotus blanchoti), colloquially known as the ghostbird, is a species of passerine bird in the family Malaconotidae. It is widespread throughout sub-Saharan Africa, although relatively absent in Central Africa and the interior of southern Africa. It is the most widespread species of its genus, which consists of large bushshrikes with massive bills and mournful hooting calls. It occurs sparsely in a range of wooded habitats, though typically in denser vegetation within dry or moist savannah. The monogamous pairs occupy woodland with sufficient cover. They are sedentary, but will undertake limited post-breeding movements. Wikipedia →

<5% of wildlife watchers report a Gray-headed Bushshrike sighting in iSimangaliso Wetland Park, based on 36 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at iSimangaliso Wetland Park

Black-backed Puffback
LC

Black-backed Puffback

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dryoscopus cubla

50–60% · Likely
Southern Boubou
LC

Southern Boubou

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Laniarius ferrugineus

30–40% · Possible
Four-colored Bushshrike
LC

Four-colored Bushshrike

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Telophorus viridis

20–30% · With luck
Four-colored Bushshrike

Four-colored Bushshrike

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Telophorus quadricolor

10–20% · With luck
Black-crowned Tchagra
LC

Black-crowned Tchagra

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tchagra senegalus

5–10% · With luck
Brown-crowned Tchagra
LC

Brown-crowned Tchagra

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tchagra australis

<5% · Rare
Brubru
LC

Brubru

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Nilaus afer

<5% · Rare
Bokmakierie
LC

Bokmakierie

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Telophorus zeylonus

Insufficient data
Common Bulbul
LC

Common Bulbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pycnonotus barbatus

60–70% · Likely
Yellow-bellied Greenbul
LC

Yellow-bellied Greenbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chlorocichla flaviventris

50–60% · Likely
Green-backed Camaroptera
LC

Green-backed Camaroptera

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Camaroptera brachyura

50–60% · Likely
Sombre Greenbul
LC

Sombre Greenbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Andropadus importunus

50–60% · Likely

📅 Monthly Probability

<5
Jan
<5
Feb
<5
Mar
<5
Apr
5–10
May
<5
Jun
5–10
Jul
5–10
Aug
<5
Sep
<5
Oct
<5
Nov
5–10
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
30–40%
2 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
20–30%
3 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
20–30%
4 Awash National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
20–30%
5 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
10–20%
6 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
7 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
8 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
9 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
10 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
10–20%
11 Niokolo-Koba National Park 🇸🇳 Senegal
10–20%
12 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
10–20%
13 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
14 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
15 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
5–10%
16 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
5–10%
17 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
5–10%
18 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
5–10%
19 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
5–10%
20 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
5–10%
21 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
22 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
23 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
24 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
25 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
26 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
27 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
28 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
29 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
30 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
31 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
32 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
33 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
34 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
35 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
<5%
36 Selous Game Reserve 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
37 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
Insufficient data
38 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
Insufficient data
39 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
40 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
41 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
42 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
Insufficient data
43 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
44 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
45 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Gray-headed Bushshrike in iSimangaliso Wetland Park?

About 3% of wildlife watchers report a Gray-headed Bushshrike sighting in iSimangaliso Wetland Park, based on 36 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Gray-headed Bushshrike in iSimangaliso Wetland Park?

August has the highest sighting rate for Gray-headed Bushshrike in iSimangaliso Wetland Park in our monthly data.

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