The Doherty’s Bushshrike, also scientifically known as Telophorus Doherty is one of the species of birds in Malaconotidae family. In Africa, it can be spotted in countries of D.R. Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and Kenya. Mostly sighted in the tropical or subtropical montane forests or shrub lands.
The Doherty’s Bushshrike is a medium-sized bird with a striking green color and a red forehead, bright lemon yellow belly and broad black breast for adults and the young ones’ under parts or belly have fine green barred black colors and the other body color is pale green. This species is mostly heard singing than physically spotted and it’s heard whistling all year round in its territories.
Doherty’s Bushshrike normally feeds on beetles and grasshoppers; its main food is therefore insects. When spotted, Doherty’s bush-shrike can be located on ground and in undergrowth vegetation. The breeding season differs depending on the country, for example in the months between April and July breeding happens in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya while in Uganda, breeding takes place in May and June.
Doherty’s Bushshrike is mainly spotted in Uganda in parts of Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga national park while Rwanda, they are spotted in Nyungwe national park. While in Bwindi National Park, Ruhija sector is the best to visit to be able to spot these birds and in Nyungwe national park it is spotted when you follow the Bigugu trail.
Much of the information is not known about Doherty’s Bushshrike. It is under the red list of International Union of conservation of Nature. The total population of these species is unknown. So there is generally insufficient information known about the species of Doherty’s Bushshrike.
Females lay 2 to 3 eggs in a beautiful small and neat nest and they take about 25 days to hatch. Like any other bird, both the male and female take care of young ones, by feeding and offering protection from any attack. They are mostly threatened by black Boubou which chases them all the time from their habitats.
They are solitary birds which means they prefer staying in singles and they do not live in groups. Therefore, while on your Birding safari to Africa and particularly in Uganda or Rwanda, you will spot one Doherty’s Bushshrike at ago but with appealing colors. Their call or whistling sound draws your attention and you’ll start the search for this beautiful bird right away.
They normally live at an altitude of 1300m to 2000m above sea level in montane forests. This explains why Mgahinga and Bwindi national parks are the most common conservation areas where you can spot these birds on your Uganda birding safari. It is believed that a Doherty’s Bushshrike can be occasionally spotted in bamboo forests, and during a golden monkey trekking experience you may be lucky to spot these bird species.
When to spot the Doherty’s Bushshrike on a birding safari?
As earlier mentioned that they whistle throughout the year but rarely spotted, thus making them an endangered wild species. For best results, you are advised to visit specific areas where you are sure that there are high chances of spotting the Doherty’s Bushshrike during a birding safari in Uganda.
