Magpie Shrike
Urolestes melanoleucus
A bulky black shrike with scattered white patches on the shoulders and wings and a very long, floppy tail. The sexes have differently colored flanks: females white, males black. Small groups of 3 to 10 sit upright on perches 1 to 5 meters high in grassy open savanna and sparse broadleaf woodland. Perch-and-wait predators, they drop onto insect and small vertebrate prey, and often move locally into recently burned areas to forage. The species gives a shrill starling- or parrot-like “pleeee-eouuu,” often produced by more than one bird at once, and also gives harsh grating cries.
Identification
The magpie shrike (Urolestes melanoleucus), also known as the African long-tailed shrike, is a species of bird in the family Laniidae. It is the only species placed in the genus Urolestes. It is native to the grasslands of eastern and southeastern Africa, where its natural habitats are dry savannah, moist savannah, and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. It has a very wide range and is common in places, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".
Taxonomy
Genus: Urolestes; Family: Laniidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Urolestes melanoleucus
- Authority
- Jardine, 1831
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Laniidae
- Genus
- Urolestes
Range and habitat
The magpie shrike is found in Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It inhabits open savannah with scattered acacia trees, close-grazed turf and bare ground, in parts of southern and central Africa where precipitation mainly occurs between November and April. Arid areas are avoided but semi-arid areas may be favoured. It also occurs in woodland, particularly riparian areas, and in the Kruger National Park is found in river valleys with thorny mopane trees.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Sterna virgata
A slender tern with a short bill. Breeding adults are dark-capped with an ashy-gray body, a strongly contrasting white cheek stripe and rump, and a reddish bill and legs. In flight, underwings and uppertail are mostly grayish. In non-breeding plumage resembles other non-breeding terns, but note structure. Restricted to a handful of subantarctic islands, where it forages in inshore waters; common on Kerguelen and uncommon on Crozet and Marion. In breeding plumage, the larger Antarctic Tern is paler gray than Kerguelen, with a larger bill and whitish (not grayish) uppertail and underwings. Arctic Terns (in non-breeding plumage) only overlap with Kerguelen Terns (in breeding plumage) in austral summer.
Olive-shouldered Parrot
Aprosmictus jonquillaceus
A large, long-tailed green parrot with an orange bill and a wing patch, red in males and yellow in females, that is visible both perched and in flight. Juvenile is like female, but lacks wing patch. Singles or small flocks can be found in a variety of wooded areas, like forests and plantations, in lowlands and mountains. Limited to a few islands in the Lesser Sundas. Distinguished from Olive-headed and Marigold Lorikeets by its larger size, its broad square tail, and its lack of a dark hood. Gives raucous, shrill screeches, high-pitched tinkling, and lower-pitched “kraak-kraaak” calls.
Long-tailed Hermit
Phaethornis superciliosus
Common, medium-sized mostly brown hummingbird of rainforest understory; also occurs in secondary forests. Moves constantly among widely separated patches of flowers, pausing en route to investigate brightly colored objects, including clothing. Typical call is a loud, single squeak, given as birds move between foraging spots. Displaying males occupy low perches and give a long series of squeaks while pumping their tails. Similar to several other hermits in general appearance and behavior; note lack of white tips on outer tail feathers, curved bill, and generally brownish coloration without strong facial markings.
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