Habitat
Subtropical and tropical lowland dry and moist shrubland. Also, subtropical and tropical high altitude shrubland, dry savanna, urban areas and plantations. From sea-level - 2,500 m.
Bokmakierie (Telophorus zeylonus) [XC462052]
by Tony Archer from Kroonstad, Northern Free State, Free State, South Africa (call)
Bokmakierie (Telophorus zeylonus) [XC386961]
by Marion Maclean from Rietvlei nr 2, Montagu, Western Cape, South Africa (song)
Subspecies
Molecular-genetic studies suggest that genus is more closely allied to Chlorophoneus and Laniarius than to the clade formed by Malaconotus, Dryoscopus and Tchagra, although has been thought to link arboreal Chlorophoneus and semi-terrestrial Tchagra. Present species sometimes placed in Chlorophoneus, but differs in lack of mouth spots and in nest structure, egg coloration, semi-terrestrial habit and communication behaviour. Thought to be most closely related to Rosy-patched Bush-Shrike (Rhodophoneus cruentus), which it resembles in plumage pattern, tail shape and pattern, behaviour and voice.
thermophilus Clancey, 1960 - Namibia (southern from c. 21° south), south-western and south-eastern Botswana and western and northern South Africa (east to Limpopo and western Free State).
zeylonus (Linnaeus, 1766) - Eastern and southern South Africa (central and eastern Free State and KwaZulu-Natal south to south-eastern western Cape), Swaziland and Lesotho.
restrictus Irwin, 1968 - Chimanimani Mts, on Zimbabwe-Mozambique border.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet