The Rosy-Patched Bush-Shrike (Rhodophoneus hilgerti cruentus) is a small species of passerine (songbird) found in South Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, East Kenya, and North Kenya.

It is a small bird of about 22 centimetres (8-9 inches) tall. It is light brown with a distinctive blood-red stain from its throat and down its white chest. It has a long tail and hooked beak.

Rosy-Patched Bush-Shrike, North Kenya

The Rosy-Patched Bush-Strike prefers dry open plains with thorny acacia trees.

It is mainly an insectivore, but it will also eat beetles, grasshoppers, and fruit.

Rosy-Patched Bush-Shrike, North Kenya

Rosy-Patched Bush-Shrike

Fry, H. (2017). Rosy-patched Bush-shrike (Rhodophoneus cruentus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/60544 on 5 November 2017).

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM