Behavior

Information needed.

Information needed.

The following information pertains to Tropical Boubou (Laniarius major), as described in Harris and Franklin (2 Harris, T., and K. Franklin (2000). Shrikes & Bush-shrikes Including Wood-shrikes, Helmet-shrikes, Flycatcher-shrikes, Philentomas, Batises and Wattle-eyes. A. & C. Black, London, UK. Close ) and Fry et al. (16 Fry, C. H. (2000). Promerops gurneyi Verreaux. Gurney's Sugarbird. In The Birds of Africa. Volume VI (C. H. Fry, S. Keith, and E. K. Urban, Editors), Academic Press, London, UK. pp. 336–338. Close ), but is likely similar in Ethiopian Boubou.

Territorial Behavior

Territories are well-spaced, possibly occasionally contiguous, and are advertised and defended by calling; physical aggressive interactions between neighboring pairs rare. The calling male often perches half-exposed on or near the top of shrubs, and bobs its head and bows body with each note it sings; in territorial interactions, the calling female often perches in shrub below male.

The following information pertains to Tropical Boubou, as described in Harris and Franklin (2 Harris, T., and K. Franklin (2000). Shrikes & Bush-shrikes Including Wood-shrikes, Helmet-shrikes, Flycatcher-shrikes, Philentomas, Batises and Wattle-eyes. A. & C. Black, London, UK. Close ) and Fry et al. (16 Fry, C. H. (2000). Promerops gurneyi Verreaux. Gurney's Sugarbird. In The Birds of Africa. Volume VI (C. H. Fry, S. Keith, and E. K. Urban, Editors), Academic Press, London, UK. pp. 336–338. Close ), but is likely similar in Ethiopian Boubou.

Mating System and Operational Sex Ratio

Presumably monogamous, but no specific information.

Courtship, Copulation, and Pair Bond

Pairs remains on territory all year, with territory size ca. 2 ha in breeding season, and up to 8 ha at other times. In courtship, the male chases the female, with the two hopping close together rapidly through leaves and branches and making short wing-flicking flights. The male gives shallow head bobs and, with his neck extended, bows his body, giving snarling calls, and then flies or half-glides downwards with slow wingbeats, which exposes the whitish back and rump feathers that are fluffed out. The male will then stand upright, raise his head, and call, and then depresses his head and body while calling kit-tuu-iii, droops the wings, fans the tail, raises the back and rump feathers and lets them droop fanwise while moving up and down, calling and fluttering in front of its mate mate, then copulating occurs.

Information needed.

Information needed.