Gorgeous Bush-Shrike

(T. v. quadricolor) Ad male: Frons and variably developed supercilium yellow; lores black. Remainder of upper parts deep olive green; tail blackish. Upper wing coverts olive green. Flight feathers with green outer webs, brown inner webs. Underwing coverts olive green. Chin and throat rich scarlet, broad black gorget extends up sides of throat to lores. Remainder of underparts yellow, suffused with red just below gorget and on undertail coverts; flanks olive green. Bill black. Eyes brown. Legs and feet bluish grey.

Ad female: As male, but black gorget narrower, not extending up sides of throat to lores. Orange bases of red throat feathers visible, giving throat a mottled appearance.

Juv: Upper parts, incl wings and tail, dull olive green. Face plain yellowish green. Underparts dull yellow, sides of breast with variable olive barring. Bill greyish brown; lower mandible paler. Eyes greyish brown. Legs and feet bluish grey. This plumage retained for at least 3 mo. After post-juv partial moult, underparts progressively as female, with orange-red chin and throat and indistinct greyish-black breast band taking ca 2 mo to develop⁴.

Confusing species: Juv Orange-breasted and Black-fronted Bush-Shrikes, and juv buff morph Olive Bush-Shrike differ only in having mainly grey not greenish) head and mantle. Juv olive morph Olive Bush-Shrike inseparable in the field.

Author:TB Oatley