Habitat
Canopy of moist submontane and montane forest, preferring areas where precipitation is highest and the forest least disturbed. Also degraded forest at the edge of forest reserves or where mature and tall trees still remain. From 1,200 - 1,800 m.
Population
Estimated population is 2,400 (2010) and stable.
Status EN
Habitat destruction and degradation through cutting for firewood and some timber, leading to loss of tree cover and consequent increases of thicket tangles and invasive brambles, fires, are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Habits
Forages alone and in pairs, possibly joining mixed-species flocks.
Voice
Haunting call of 3-5 whistles, with slight rise in scale on last notes.
Uluguru Bushshrike (Malaconotus alius) [XC429988]
by Frank Lambert from Uluguru Mts. Above Tegetero Mission, Tanzania (call)
Uluguru Bushshrike (Malaconotus alius) [XC429991]
by id from Uluguru Mts. Above Tegetero Mission, Tanzania (call)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Differs from congeners in slightly smaller size, black head, brown eye, degree of sexual disparity, and perhaps also voice, and was thought by some possibly to be related to Malagasy vanga family (Vangidae), rather than to current family. However, recent studies of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA strongly support its placement within present genus.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet