Yellow-crested helmetshrike

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Yellow-crested helmetshrike
Prionops alberti stamp.jpg
Rwandan stamp featuring the yellow-crested helmetshrike
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Vangidae
Genus: Prionops
Species:
P. alberti
Binomial name
Prionops alberti
Schouteden, 1933

The yellow-crested helmetshrike (Prionops alberti) or King Albert's helmetshrike is a species of bird in the Vanga family Vangidae. This large, striking helmetshrike is unique in its black plumage and bright yellow crest. Though this species has been encountered broadly across the mountains of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, [2] [3] there is still much to learn about this species. It is rarely reported due to the majority of its distribution occurring in relatively remote regions within the Albertine Rift, an area with ongoing armed conflict.

Contents

Description

Appearance

Adults are generally all black with a bright yellow or gold crest (sometimes described as a "helmet"), with the yellow extending across the entire top half of the head above the eyeline and extending backwards behind the eye. [4] [5] The greenish-yellow irides are surrounded by an orange eye-wattle; the bill, like the plumage, is black, though the legs and feet are reported to be light red. [4] [5] Individuals can be quite variable in terms of crest color, ranging from grayish-white to pale yellowish to bright gold, [4] [5] with variation possibly attributable either to individual variation or to wear. [4] "Berlioz" (likely Jacques Berlioz) communicated that the yellow pigments in the crest feathers are "soluble in benzine, alcohol, and to some extent even in water". [4] [5] Some birds also have varying amount of gray or white in the webbing of the primaries, but some birds are wholly black. [4]

Young birds have whitish crowns that appear dirty or faintly yellow. The bills of juveniles are likely light red, not black. [4]

Sexually monomorphic.

Vocalizations

The call has been described as a two-parted "tlu-uk" or "clu-uk" in the field, repeated as many as six times. [4] Responds strongly to alarm calls from other individuals. [4]

Taxonomy

The yellow-crested helmetshrike is a member of the family Vangidae. This species, along with other members of the genus Prionops, was formerly considered a member of the family Malaconotidae. Little is known about this species, and its taxonomic placement within the genus Prionops is uncertain. It is a monotypic species. Its specific epithet comes from King Albert I of Belgium, as the species' type locality was located what was then the Belgian Congo. [6]

Distribution and habitat

Distribution

It is endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, [6] with all confirmed records found from the Lendu Plateau west of Lake Mwitanzige (also known as Lake Albert) in the north to Mount Kabobo in the south. It has been suspected to occur outside of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as the type specimen is from Mount Mikeno near the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, [7] and a sight record of a flock exists from nearby Mount Nyiragongo. [8] Furthermore, a hypothetical sight record exists for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda. [9]

Habitat

Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forest in the Albertine Rift, largely between the elevations of 1120–2500 m in elevation. [2] Birds have been reported foraging in Hagenia trees on Mount Kahuzi. [4] However, the type specimen was found dead ("mummified") on the summit of Mount Mikeno at 4,400 m in elevation; [7] [5] this record is both above the montane forest zone usually inhabited by this species and it is one of the most remote records of the species, leading to speculation that this is an extralimital individual. [4] It has been suspected that this species may undertake seasonal altitudinal migration. [3]

Behavior

Foraging and general behaviour

The species is insectivorous, actively searching and hunting for arthropods in fast-moving groups of up to 14-20 individuals in the forest canopy, similar to other Prionops. [4] [6] So far as is known, this species is non-migratory, but elevational movements may occur seasonally. [3]

Reproduction

The nest is undescribed. [4]

Chapin suspected that the species does not have a small, discrete breeding season in the northern part of its distribution. [4] Juvenile birds have been reported from Lutunguru, North Kivu between mid-August and October, leading Alexandre Prigogine to suspect that eggs are laid sometime in June or July. [4]

Conservation

It is threatened by habitat loss.

As of 2024, the species is considered vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. [10]

The yellow-crested helmetshrike, previously categorized as a lost species, was rediscovered by biologist Michael Harvey's team during a six-week expedition to the Itombwe Mountains in December 2023. They encountered 18 of the elusive birds in three locations, suggesting a potentially healthy population. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanga</span> Family of birds

The family Vangidae comprises a group of often shrike-like medium-sized birds distributed from Asia to Africa, including the vangas of Madagascar to which the family owes its name. Many species in this family were previously classified elsewhere in other families. Recent molecular techniques made it possible to assign these species to Vangidae, thereby solving several taxonomic enigmas. The family contains 40 species divided into 21 genera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helmetshrike</span> Genus of birds

Helmetshrikes are the eight species of smallish to mid-sized songbirds in the genus Prionops. They were previously included with the true shrikes in the family Laniidae, later on split between several presumably closely related groups such as bushshrikes (Malaconotidae) and cuckooshrikes (Campephagidae), but are now considered sufficiently distinctive to be separated from that group into the family Vangidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virunga Mountains</span> Chain of 8 free-standing volcanoes in East Africa

The Virunga Mountains are a chain of volcanoes in East Africa, in the area where Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Uganda meet. The mountain range is a branch of the Albertine Rift Mountains, which border the western branch of the East African Rift. They are located between Lake Edward and Lake Kivu. The name "Virunga" is an English version of the Kinyarwanda word ibirunga, which means "volcanoes".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virunga National Park</span> National park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Virunga National Park is a national park in the Albertine Rift Valley in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was created in 1925. In elevation, it ranges from 680 m (2,230 ft) in the Semliki River valley to 5,109 m (16,762 ft) in the Rwenzori Mountains. From north to south it extends approximately 300 km (190 mi), largely along the international borders with Uganda and Rwanda in the east. It covers an area of 8,090 km2 (3,120 sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mgahinga Gorilla National Park</span> National Park in Uganda

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a national park in southwestern Uganda. It was created in 1991 and covers an area of 33.9 km2 (13.1 sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albertine Rift</span> Western branch of the East African Rift

The Albertine Rift is the western branch of the East African Rift, covering parts of Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania. It extends from the northern end of Lake Albert to the southern end of Lake Tanganyika. The geographical term includes the valley and the surrounding mountains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albertine Rift montane forests</span> Ecoregion in east-central Africa

The Albertine Rift montane forests is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in east-central Africa. The ecoregion covers the mountains of the northern Albertine Rift, and is home to distinct Afromontane forests with high biodiversity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Semuliki National Park</span> Ugandan nature reserve

Semuliki National Park is a national park in Bwamba County, a remote part of the Bundibugyo District in the Western Region of Uganda that was established in October 1993. It encompasses 219 km2 (85 sq mi) of East Africa's only lowland tropical rainforest. It is one of the richest areas of floral and faunal biodiversity in Africa, with bird and butterfly species being especially diverse. The park is managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Grauer's cuckooshrike is a little known species of bird in the family Campephagidae. It is endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is found in mid-elevation montane forests, where it can be locally common. Similar to other species endemic to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, it is rarely reported due to ongoing armed conflict in the Albertine Rift.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-crested helmetshrike</span> Species of bird

The white-crested helmetshrike, also known as the white helmetshrike, is a species of passerine bird in the Vanga family Vangidae, formerly usually included in the Malaconotidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-crested woodpecker</span> Species of bird

The yellow-crested woodpecker, also known as the golden-crowned woodpecker, is a species of bird in the family Picidae. Some taxonomic authorities place this species in Dendropicos. Its typical habitat is wet tropical forest and it is found in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rufous-bellied helmetshrike</span> Species of bird

The rufous-bellied helmetshrike or Gabon helmetshrike is a passerine bird belonging to the Vanga family, Vangidae. It inhabits tropical forest in Central Africa. It is sometimes included within the chestnut-bellied helmetshrike of West Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Mikeno</span> Extinct volcano in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Mount Mikeno is an extinct volcanic mountain located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo section of the Virunga Mountains along with Mount Nyiragongo, Mount Nyamuragira, Mount Karisimbi, Mount Bisoke and Mount Sabyinyo. At 4,437 metres (14,557 ft) Mount Mikeno is the second highest peak in the Virunga Mountains after Karisimbi, and the 13th highest in Africa. Mikeno means "poor" and is so named for its harsh slopes which preclude human habitation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Itombwe Mountains</span> Mountain range in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Itombwe Mountains are a range of mountains in the South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). They run along the west shore of the northern part of Lake Tanganyika. They contain a vast area of contiguous montane forest and are home to a rich diversity of wildlife.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rwenzori–Virunga montane moorlands</span> Montane ecoregion in central Africa

The Ruwenzori-Virunga montane moorlands is a montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregion of the Rwenzori Mountains and Virunga Mountains in central Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Congo–Nile Divide</span> Continental divide in Africa

The Congo–Nile Divide or the Nile–Congo Watershed is the continental divide that separates the drainage basins of the Congo and Nile rivers. It is about 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) long.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kahuzi-Biéga National Park</span> National park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Kahuzi-Biega National Park is a protected area near Bukavu town in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is situated near the western bank of Lake Kivu and the Rwandan border.

<i>Congolacerta</i> Genus of lizards

Congolacerta is a genus of equatorial African lacertids of the family Lacertidae. Species of this genus are distributed in western East Africa.

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2016). "Prionops alberti". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22707769A94137114. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22707769A94137114.en . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Bober, S. O.; Herremans, M.; Louette, M.; Kerbis-Peterhans, J. C.; Bates, John M. (2001). "Geographical and altitudinal distribution of birds endemic to the Albertine Rift". Ostrich Supplement. 15: 189–196.
  3. 1 2 3 Louette, Michel (2 March 2020). "Biological Collections are a Vital Resource of Information to Guide Conservation and Research". Bulletin des Séances de l'Académie Royale des Sciences d'Outre-Mer. 63: 73–87. doi:10.5281/zenodo.3693832.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Chapin, James P. (1954). "The Birds of the Belgian Congo: Part 4". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 75B.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 de Witte, Gaston François (1972). Exploration du parc national Albert: mission G. F. de Witte (1933-1935). Belgium: Institut des parcs nationaux du Congo Belge.
  6. 1 2 3 Allan, David (4 March 2020). del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J.; Christie, D. A.; de Juana, E. (eds.). "Yellow-crested Helmetshrike (Prionops alberti)". Birds of the World. Ithaca, New York, USA: Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.yechel1.01. S2CID   216173290.
  7. 1 2 Schouteden, Henri (1933). "Un oiseau nouveau trouvi. au sommet du Mikeno". Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique Africaines. 24: 211.
  8. ↑ Pedersen, Tommy (9 March 1992). "eBird Checklist - 9 Mar 1992 - Nyiragongo volcano - 8 species". ebird.org. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  9. ↑ Keith, Stuart; Twomey, Arthur; Friedmann, Herbert; Williams, John (10 October 1969). "The avifauna of the Impenetrable Forest, Uganda". American Museum Novitates (2398): 1–41.
  10. 1 2 "Magnificent yellow-crested bird photographed for the first time". New Scientist . Retrieved 2024-05-04.
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