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Helmetshrikes
White-crested helmetshrike Prionops plumatus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Vangidae
Genus:	Prionops Vieillot, 1816
Type species
Lanius plumatus Shaw, 1809

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.

Description and ecology

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This is an African group of species which are found in scrub or open woodland. They are similar in feeding habits to shrikes, hunting insects and other small prey from a perch on a bush or tree.

Although similar in build to the shrikes, these tend to be colourful species with the distinctive crests or other head ornaments, such as wattles, from which they get their name.

Helmetshrikes are noisy and sociable birds, some of which breed in loose colonies. They lay 2–4 eggs in neat, well-hidden nests.

Systematics

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As the relationships of the shrike-like birds are increasingly disentangled, the helmetshrikes appear to form an evolutionary radiation with the Vangidae.

• Genus Prionops – typical helmetshrikes
  • White-crested helmetshrike, Prionops plumatus
  • Grey-crested helmetshrike, Prionops poliolophus
  • Yellow-crested helmetshrike, Prionops alberti
  • Red-billed helmetshrike, Prionops caniceps
  • Rufous-bellied helmetshrike, Prionops rufiventris
  • Retz's helmetshrike, Prionops retzii
  • Gabela helmetshrike, Prionops gabela
  • Chestnut-fronted helmetshrike, Prionops scopifrons

References

1. "Vangidae". aviansystematics.org. The Trust for Avian Systematics. Retrieved 2023-07-16.

External links

• Helmetshrike videos in the Macaulay Library

v t e Genera of corvides and their extinct allies
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Order: Passeriformes Suborder: Passeri Infraorder: Corvides
Corvides Campephagidae Campephaga Campochaera Ceblepyris Celebesica Coracina Cyanograucalus Edolisoma Lalage Lobotos Malindangia Pericrocotus Cinclosomatidae Cinclosoma Ptilorrhoa Eulacestomatidae Eulacestoma Falcunculidae Falcunculus Mohouidae Mohoua Neosittidae Daphoenositta Oreoicidae Aleadryas Oreoica Ornorectes Oriolidae †Longmornis Oriolus Pitohui Sphecotheres †Turnagra Pachycephalidae Colluricincla Coracornis Melanorectes Pachycephala Pseudorectes Paramythiidae Oreocharis Paramythia Psophodidae Androphobus Psophodes Malaconotoidea See below ↓ Corvoidea See below ↓
Malaconotoidea Aegithinidae Aegithina Artamidae Artaminae Artamus Craticinae Cracticus Gymnorhina †Kurrartapu Melloria Strepera Peltopsinae Peltops Machaerirhynchidae Machaerirhynchus Malaconotidae Chlorophoneus Dryoscopus Laniarius Malaconotus Nilaus Rhodophoneus Tchagra Telophorus Pityriasidae Pityriasis Platysteiridae Batis Lanioturdus Platysteira Rhagologidae Rhagologus Vangidae Artamella Bias Calicalicus Cyanolanius Euryceros Falculea Hemipus Hypositta Leptopterus Megabyas Mystacornis Newtonia Oriolia Philentoma Prionops Pseudobias Schetba Tephrodornis Tylas Vanga Xenopirostris
Corvoidea Corcoracidae Corcorax Struthidea Corvidae Aphelocoma Calocitta Cissa Corvus Crypsirina Cyanocitta Cyanocorax Cyanolyca Cyanopica Dendrocitta Garrulus Gymnorhinus †Henocitta †Miocitta †Miocorvus †Miopica Nucifraga Perisoreus Pica Platysmurus Podoces †Protocitta Psilorhinus Ptilostomus Pyrrhocorax Temnurus Urocissa Zavattariornis Dicruridae Dicrurus Ifritidae Ifrita Laniidae Eurocephalus Lanius Melampittidae Megalampitta Melampitta Monarchidae Monarchinae Arses Carterornis Chasiempis Clytorhynchus Grallina Mayrornis Metabolus Monarcha Myiagra Neolalage Pomarea Symposiachrus Terpsiphoninae Hypothymis Terpsiphone Trochocercus Paradisaeidae Astrapia Cicinnurus Diphyllodes Drepanornis Epimachus Lophorina Lycocorax Manucodia Paradigalla Paradisaea Paradisornis Parotia Phonygammus Pteridophora Ptiloris Seleucidis Semioptera Platylophidae Platylophus Rhipiduridae Lamproliinae Chaetorhynchus Eutrichomyias Lamprolia Rhipidurinae Rhipidura Vireonidae Cyclarhis Erpornis Hylophilus Pachysylvia Pteruthius Tunchiornis Vireo Vireolanius

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