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

Gray-headed Bushshrike

Malaconotus blanchoti

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
20–30% · Possible
overall probability at Meru National Park
30 Verified records at Meru National Park
October 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 →

20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Gray-headed Bushshrike sighting in Meru National Park, based on 30 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Meru National Park

Slate-colored Boubou
LC

Slate-colored Boubou

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Laniarius funebris

30–40% · Possible
Black-backed Puffback
LC

Black-backed Puffback

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dryoscopus cubla

30–40% · Possible
Brubru
LC

Brubru

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Nilaus afer

20–30% · Possible
Black-crowned Tchagra
LC

Black-crowned Tchagra

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tchagra senegalus

20–30% · Possible
Three-streaked Tchagra
LC

Three-streaked Tchagra

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tchagra jamesi

5–10% · With luck
Pringle's Puffback
LC

Pringle's Puffback

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dryoscopus pringlii

Insufficient data
Brown-crowned Tchagra
LC

Brown-crowned Tchagra

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tchagra australis

Insufficient data
Superb Starling
LC

Superb Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis superbus

80–90% · Very likely
White-headed Buffalo-Weaver
LC

White-headed Buffalo-Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dinemellia dinemelli

80–90% · Very likely
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
LC

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Plocepasser mahali

80–90% · Very likely
Fork-tailed Drongo
LC

Fork-tailed Drongo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dicrurus adsimilis

70–80% · Very likely
Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver
LC

Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bubalornis niger

70–80% · Very likely

📅 Monthly Probability

10–20
Jan
20–30
Feb
10–20
Mar
40–50
Apr
30–40
May
30–40
Jun
20–30
Jul
10–20
Aug
10–20
Sep
40–50
Oct
10–20
Nov
10–20
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 Meru National Park?

About 25% of wildlife watchers report a Gray-headed Bushshrike sighting in Meru National Park, based on 30 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Gray-headed Bushshrike in Meru National Park?

October has the highest sighting rate for Gray-headed Bushshrike in Meru National Park in our monthly data.

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