Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike Prionops scopifrons Scientific name definitions

16–18 cm; 20–40 g. Smallest member of family. Nominate race has slight, neat chestnut crest on forehead, forecrown light grey, lores white, upper chin sometimes with some white, hindcrown, nape and rest of head (ear-coverts and cheek) blackish-grey, upper­parts paler grey with brown tinge; remiges and outer primary coverts blackish, primaries with broad white central bar (conspicuous in flight), tertials and inner upperwing-coverts grey; uppertail slightly glossy black, broad white tips on outer feathers, white decreasing in extent on inner feathers towards central pair, which narrowly tipped white; throat dark grey, chest and upper belly grey, lower belly to undertail-coverts white, underwing-coverts and axillaries grey; iris yellow with red-orange outer ring, bare skin at rear of eye purplish, conspicuous broad blue-grey orbital ring with scalloped fringe; bill red, tipped orange-yellow; legs red. Differs from P. retzii mainly in smaller size, greyer appearance, with chestnut crest and blue-grey orbital ring. Sexes similar, female slightly duller than male. Juvenile has brown head and crown feathers tipped whitish, body and wings paler and browner, feathers of upperparts tipped whitish and underparts faintly barred, wing feathers often with narrow white tips, no orbital ring, eyes brown, bill and legs blackish (both later yellow); acquires full adult appearance in second year. Race kirki is paler and browner above and below than nominate, forecrown even paler and more contrasting, pale throat contrasts strongly with darker cheeks, but lacks white on lores and chin, wingbar less pronounced; <em>keniensis</em> is larger, lacks light grey forecrown, wingbar even less pronounced than on preceding race (absent on upperwing, only faintly discernible below).

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Diet insects, e.g. ant-lions (Myrmeleontidae), beetles (Coleoptera), caterpillars, grasshoppers (Orthoptera) and moths (Lepidoptera), as well as spiders (Araneae), small vertebrates, also fruit, e.g. Ochna berries. Hunts at all levels of forest; apparently prefers small-leaved trees and seeks prey among branches, trunks and thickets. Sometimes suspended upside-down in manner of a tit (Paridae) when hunting, and seems also to utilize auditory cues in prey location. Frequently takes flying prey on wing in fashion of muscicapid flycatcher (more so than P. plumatus and P. retzii), often while hovering. Sometimes flops into leaf cluster, apparently to flush prey. Occasionally takes prey on ground. Lives and forages in groups of 3–12 individuals (average seven) during breeding; up to 30 when non-breeding, but largest flocks likely aggregations of more than one group. Group-members more spread out and hence less conspicuous than those of P. plumatus and P. retzii. In winter months frequently joins parties of P. retzii, over which apparently dominant (and reported as outnumbering that species where the two occur together), and also, rarely, P. plumatus, as well as those of other bird species, e.g. Old World orioles, woodpeckers (Picidae) and, especially, Green Woodhoopoes (Phoeniculus purpureus); apparently does not attract such parties so often as do other members of family. Less shy than <em>P. retzii</em> .

Highly vocal and many calls similar to those of sympatric P. retzii, e.g. whistled song of both similar to that of Old World orioles (Oriolidae). At least some calls may reflect individual gender and social status. Typical call of nasal, grating notes likened to aggressive trill of Lesser Honeyguide (Indicator minor). Also other buzzing, chattering, chuckling, churring, gobbling, growling, humming, rattling, slurred, tinkling, trilling, whirring and winding calls, frequently alternated with whistling notes. Sharp "shuk" possibly in alarm. Bill-snapping characteristic.

Egg-laying Dec–Jul (peak Jan–Apr) in N of range and Oct–Dec in S. Co-operative breeder, all group-members assisting in all aspects of breeding; groups likely comprise breeding pair and helpers. Nest solitary; territory large, and all group-members participate in territory defence. Courtship marked by soliciting, and wing-spreading and wing-flapping; claims of courtship feeding require corroboration. Several, probably all, group-members assist in nest construction; a shallow cup of grass and thin bark strips, bound with fibre, moss, lichen and, especially, spider web (web apparently transported in bill and on erectile frontal crest feathers), similar to that of P. plumatus, external diameter 6–6·5 cm, depth up to 4 cm, internal depth 2·5 cm; placed 4·5–23 m (average 12 m) up on branch or in fork in middle to upper canopy of large forest tree, e.g. Brachystegia, Breonadia, Bridelia or Newtonia, may prefer small-leaved trees for both nesting and foraging. Clutch 3 eggs; incubation, apparently initiated when clutch complete, by variable number of group (division of labour seems to be less marked than for P. plumatus and P. retzii, with fewer group-members incubating and for longer periods), sitting individual occasionally fed by other group-members; no information on duration of incubation and nestling periods; fledglings probably fed by all or most of group-members. No data on breeding success; aggressive towards, and will strike, potential predators, such as monkeys, eagles (Accipitridae) and owls (Strigidae).