Laniarius barbarus
Yellow-crowned Gonolek
A striking, medium-sized (~22 cm) bushshrike and common resident breeding bird found from Senegal and The Gambia east to Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. A familiar garden and compound bird in The Gambia, often heard before seen.
Identification
Solidly black upperparts contrast with a golden-yellow crown and scarlet-red underparts (apart from a buff-yellow undertail); sexes look alike. A skulking bird of dense undergrowth, often detected first by its loud, duetting calls.
Want to see the Yellow-crowned Gonolek?
Join Yaya on a trip to one of the sites below, or ask about an itinerary built around it — he'll help you plan the best way to find it in the field.
Where to find it
Western Region, near Lamin/Abuko, south of Serekunda on the Banjul–Brikama highway
Abuko is The Gambia's oldest protected wildlife area, a small but botanically rich pocket of gallery forest along the Lamin Stream, easily reached from the coastal resorts. It's one of the country's most reliable sites for forest-dependent species, with an easy circular trail and hides making close encounters straightforward even on a short visit.
Tours that target this bird
A carefully paced 15-day tour from the Atlantic coast through the mangrove-lined River Gambia and into the eastern part of the country, balancing serious birding with rest, wildlife and Gambian culture. Around 300 species are possible depending on season.
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A comprehensive birding, wildlife and nature tour combining the finest habitats of The Gambia with Northern Senegal's Saloum Delta — coastal wetlands, mangroves, woodland, rice fields, savannah and riverine forest, plus a boat excursion to the Scissor-tailed Kite colony at Kousmar.
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