Scientists from the University of Texas at El Paso discovered a small flock of the birds during a six-week expedition to a mountain range in Democratic Republic of the Congo . The team trekked on foot for 75 miles through the depths of the Itombwe Massif mountains, studying birds, amphibians, and reptiles along the way . In total, about 18 helmetshrikes appeared in noisy and active groups among the mid-layer of forest vegetation at three sites, during the expedition .