Yellow-crowned gonolek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yellow-crowned gonolek |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Laniarius
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| Species: |
barbarus
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| Synonyms | |
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Lanius barbarus Linnaeus, 1766 |
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The yellow-crowned gonolek (also called the common gonolek) is a colorful, medium-sized bird. Its scientific name is Laniarius barbarus. It belongs to the bushshrike family. You can find these birds living in many parts of central Africa. They live from Senegal all the way to Ethiopia. These birds like to hide in thick bushes and trees. They build cup-shaped nests and usually lay two eggs.
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About the Yellow-crowned Gonolek's Name
Every living thing has a scientific name. This helps scientists around the world know exactly which animal or plant they are talking about. The yellow-crowned gonolek got its scientific name, Laniarius barbarus, a long time ago.
Who Named This Bird?
A French scientist named Mathurin Jacques Brisson first described this bird in 1760. He saw a specimen from Senegal. Later, in 1766, a famous Swedish scientist named Carl Linnaeus gave the bird its official scientific name. Linnaeus is known for creating the system we use today to name all living things.
Where Does Its Name Come From?
The yellow-crowned gonolek is now part of a group of birds called Laniarius. This group was named by another French scientist, Louis Pierre Vieillot, in 1816. There are two slightly different types of yellow-crowned gonoleks, which scientists call "subspecies."
What Does a Yellow-crowned Gonolek Look Like?
The yellow-crowned gonolek is about 22 cm (8.7 in) long. That's about the length of a ruler! It has a long tail and short wings.
Colors of the Gonolek
Adult birds are very brightly colored. Even though they are bright, they can be hard to spot. This is because they often hide in thick bushes. Their upper body is solid black. But their head has a beautiful golden crown. Their underside is bright red, with a buff-yellow color under their tail. Their legs are dark. Both male and female birds look very similar. Young birds are usually paler and not as bright.
Life and Habits of the Gonolek
You might not often see a yellow-crowned gonolek. They prefer to stay hidden in thick bushes. However, you can often hear their calls!
Sounds and Food
These birds make many different sounds. They whistle and make rattling noises. They often sing together in a duet. One bird might make a fluted "too-lioo" sound. Another bird will then make a rattling "ch-chacha" sound right after it.
Yellow-crowned gonoleks mostly eat insects. They find their food in bushes or on the ground. Their diet mainly includes beetles and caterpillars. Sometimes, they might also eat bird eggs or very young birds from other nests.
Reproduction and Nesting
Yellow-crowned gonoleks are monogamous. This means a male and female bird stay together as a pair. They also protect their own territory. Sometimes, you can see them chasing each other through bushes. They jump from branch to branch and make metallic "twanging" sounds.
Their nest is shaped like a deep cup. It is often built in a bush using small roots and plant tendrils. The female bird usually lays two eggs. Sometimes, she might lay three. The eggs are grayish-green or bluish-green with dark spots.
