Gorgeous Bush-ShrikeTelophorus viridis KonkoitLaniarius viridis Vieillot, 1817, Nouv. Dict. d'Hist. Nat., nouv. éd., 13:300; Malimbe ( = Malembo), Congoarea ( = Cabinda, Angola). viridis (L) = green. 1. T. v. quadricolor; 2. T. v. quartus. |
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Male incubating Nkwaleni, KwaZulu-Natal Photo Hugh Chittenden (D) |
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BREEDING: Monogamous, solitary nester, territorial1. Breeding territory advertised by singing male; rivals may counter-sing within metres of each other, and boundary disputes may involve pairs, with both sexes calling loudly and bill-clicking1,7. Territorial threat postures incl bowing, side-to-side body-jerking, wing- and tail-flicking and neck-stretching toward rival3. In presumed courtship display, female bowed in front of male, making bill-snapping sounds in accompaniment to whistled calls by male3. Nest: Shallow, loosely woven cup of fine twigs, rootlets, tendrils and grasses, lined with leaf stalks. Outside diam (n = 3) 100-118 mm, depth 49-70 mm; cup diam 65-100 mm, depth 15-17 mm4. Placed on horizontal twigs, forking branch or on cluster of tendrils in centre of bush or tangled climbers; 0.6-1.5 m (n = 11), usually ca 1 m above ground4,10. Laying dates: Zimbabwe Oct-Feb (peak Oct-Dec)5; Mozambique Nov-Feb; S Africa Oct-Dec1. Eggs: 2 (n = 13)6. Sub-elliptical15. Pale whitish or greenish blue, streaked, spotted and blotched with shades of pale brown and mauve (rarely with black scrolling); markings concentrated over obtuse half. Size (n = 13) 22.4-24.6 x 15.9-18.3 mm (23.3 x 16.9 mm)6. Incubation: Period unknown, by both sexes. Approach to nest always through cover, never by direct flight10. Incubating male gives whistled call on nest, probably to initiate changeover4. Development & care of young: Newly hatched young naked, blind, and with mouth spots. Brooded by female; male brings food and calls frequently nearby. Young remain with ads for at least 4 mo after leaving nest3. Breeding success: Probably single-brooded3. |
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Male at nest Nkwaleni, KwaZulu-Natal, Nov 2007 Photo Hugh Chittenden (D) |
Female at nest Nkwaleni, KwaZulu-Natal, Nov 2007 Photo Hugh Chittenden (D) |
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Nest and eggs Photo Hugh Chittenden (D) |
Female incubating Nkwaleni, KwaZulu-Natal, Nov 2007 Photo Guy Upfold (D) |
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Female feeding chicks Nkwaleni, KwaZulu-Natal, Nov 2007 Photo Guy Upfold (D) |
Chicks 2 days old Nkwaleni, KwaZulu-Natal Photo Hugh Chittenden (D) |
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Male feeding chicks Nkwaleni, KwaZulu-Natal, Nov 2007 Photo Guy Upfold (D) |
Nest and chicks Hluhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal Photo Hugh Chittenden (D) |
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Nest and chicks Hluhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal, Dec 2007 Photo Hugh Chittenden (D) |
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