--- Keith Betton <keith_betton@hotmail.com> wrote:
> From: "Keith Betton" <keith_betton@hotmail.com>
> To: itaisha1@yahoo.com
> Subject: Helmet-shrikes

> Dear Itai
> 
> Could you possibly forward this question to the
> group?.....
> 
> When we were in Lake Nakuru National Park we saw a
> group of about five 
> "Helmet-shrikes". The first bird I examined was a
> typical Grey-crested 
> Helmet-shrike. It laked the yellow eye-wattle and
> had the dark marks at the 
> edge of the breast. The bird was no bigger than the
> others. However we then 
> discovered that the others were all typical
> White-crested Helmet-shrikes 
> instead.
> 
> Does any one have experience of the two species
> forming mixed flocks?
> 
> Regards
> 
> Keith Betton

now, since Keith as already raised the issue, i would
like to support his question with another observation
from late Dec' by Brian Finch and myself, again at L.
Nakuru (House of the Cormorants) where we had a mix
flock of the two species.

since P.p.poliocephalus is not suppose to be in Nakuru
this is a very very strange case (as this is the only
subspecies of White-crested Helmet Shrike that looks
similar to Grey-crested). P.p.cristatus which is known
from L. Nakuru has a completely different wing pattern
and also the yellow eye wattle. so what is going on
with L. Nakuru Helmet Shrikes? does anyone have any
idea?

i know that Mr. Neil Baker is also interested in
collecting more data on Grey-crested Helmet Shrikes
and therefore any observation of this kind (mixed
flocks, new sites...) will be most welcome to him.

=====
***************************************
Itai Shanni                    
itaisha1@yahoo.com
http://www.geocities.com/itaisha1
           
Tel 00-254-722-889099
or  00-254-733-254270  
p.o. Box 47419           
Nairobi                  
Kenya