2-6-2019 LINYANTI, BOTSWANA - MAGPIE SHRIKE (Corvinella melanoleuca)

The magpie shrike is a long-tailed, black and white bird native to African savannas that hunts insects and small vertebrates by dropping onto them from a perch. It is known for its large size, glossy black head, white wing patches, and very long tail, which can be nearly as long as its body. These birds are social, live in small family groups, and are listed as a species of "least concern". 

Physical characteristics

Size: 34–50 cm in length, including the long tail.

Plumage: Glossy black with white patches on the wings and a long, floppy, graduated tail.

Sexual dimorphism: The flanks are white in females and black in males. 

Habitat and distribution

Habitat: Found in dry and moist savannas and sparse broadleaf woodlands. They often move into recently burned areas to forage.

Distribution: Native to eastern and southeastern Africa, including areas in Kenya, Tanzania, Angola, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa. 

Behavior and diet

Hunting: Perch-and-wait predators that drop down on prey like insects, small lizards, and nestlings.

Social Structure: Live in small, non-migratory family groups of 3 to 10 birds.

Vocalizations: Noisy birds that make a shrill, starling- or parrot-like "pleeee-eouuu" and harsh, grating cries.

Food storage: Like other shrikes, they are known to impale prey on thorns or barbed wire to store for later, which is why some shrikes are informally called "butcher birds". 

Reproduction

Courtship: Includes dancing and flight displays, with the male offering food to the female.

Nesting: Lays 2–6 eggs in a cup-shaped nest.

Incubation and care: The female incubates the eggs for about 16 days, often with food provided by the male and other group members. Both parents and previous offspring help care for the chicks, who leave the nest after 15–19 days. 

Conservation status

Global status: Least Concern (LC) according to the IUCN.

Local status: Also listed as Least Concern in South Africa. 

27-5-2019 SOMALISA CAMP, ZIMBABWE - MAGPIE SHRIKE (Corvinella melanoleuca)

The magpie shrike (Lanius melanoleucus), also known as the African long-tailed shrike, is a species of bird in the family Laniidae. 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".

The magpie shrike is found in Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.[1] 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.

26-5-2019 SOMALISA, ZIMBABWE - MAGPIE SHRIKE (Corvinella melanoleuca)

The Magpie Shrike, also known as the African Long-tailed Shrike, is a striking bird belonging to the family Laniidae. It is characterized by its elongated tail and contrasting black and white plumage, reminiscent of the European magpie, though they are not closely related.

This species can be identified by its long tail, which is almost the length of its body, and its black and white coloration. The bird's back is predominantly black, with white underparts and a white patch on the wing. The head is black with a white belly and flanks, and the eyes are keen and alert.

The Magpie Shrike is native to the grasslands of eastern and southeastern Africa. It thrives in dry savannah, moist savannah, and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, preferring open areas with scattered acacia trees, close-grazed turf, and bare ground.

This bird is found across a range of African countries, including Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It is common in places within this range.

The Magpie Shrike is a gregarious and social bird, often found in noisy groups of about a dozen. These groups occupy a home range of several tens of hectares. During the breeding season, they display a variety of behaviors such as bowing, tail flicking, wing raising, and whistling to communicate and establish bonds.

The calls of the Magpie Shrike include a variety of whistles and chatters. During courtship, the male and female may perform duets, which are an integral part of their breeding rituals.

Breeding occurs cooperatively during the rainy season. The birds defend a breeding territory of about three hectares from other groups. The female may call from the nest while the male brings her food, indicating a strong pair bond during this period.

The diet of the Magpie Shrike consists mainly of arthropods, insects, lizards, small mammals, and occasionally fruit. They forage by perching in elevated positions and scanning the ground for prey, adeptly catching most on the ground, though they are also capable of snatching flying insects mid-air.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed the Magpie Shrike as being of "Least Concern," indicating that, at present, there are no immediate threats to its population numbers that would warrant a higher level of concern.

8-6-2019 KHWAI CAMP, BOTSWANA - MAGPIE SHRIKE (Corvinella melanoleuca)

17-4-2018 CHOBE NAT PARK, BOTSWANA - MAGPIE SHRIKE (Corvinella melanoleuca)

The Magpie Shrike, also known as the African Long-tailed Shrike, is a striking bird belonging to the family Laniidae. It is characterized by its elongated tail and contrasting black and white plumage, reminiscent of the European magpie, though they are not closely related.

This species can be identified by its long tail, which is almost the length of its body, and its black and white coloration. The bird's back is predominantly black, with white underparts and a white patch on the wing. The head is black with a white belly and flanks, and the eyes are keen and alert.

The Magpie Shrike is native to the grasslands of eastern and southeastern Africa. It thrives in dry savannah, moist savannah, and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, preferring open areas with scattered acacia trees, close-grazed turf, and bare ground.

This bird is found across a range of African countries, including Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It is common in places within this range.

The Magpie Shrike is a gregarious and social bird, often found in noisy groups of about a dozen. These groups occupy a home range of several tens of hectares. During the breeding season, they display a variety of behaviors such as bowing, tail flicking, wing raising, and whistling to communicate and establish bonds.

The calls of the Magpie Shrike include a variety of whistles and chatters. During courtship, the male and female may perform duets, which are an integral part of their breeding rituals.

Breeding occurs cooperatively during the rainy season. The birds defend a breeding territory of about three hectares from other groups. The female may call from the nest while the male brings her food, indicating a strong pair bond during this period.

The diet of the Magpie Shrike consists mainly of arthropods, insects, lizards, small mammals, and occasionally fruit. They forage by perching in elevated positions and scanning the ground for prey, adeptly catching most on the ground, though they are also capable of snatching flying insects mid-air.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed the Magpie Shrike as being of "Least Concern," indicating that, at present, there are no immediate threats to its population numbers that would warrant a higher level of concern.

19-4-2018 NXEBEGA LODGE OKAVANGA DELTA, BOTSWANA - MAGPIE SHRIKE (Urolestes melanoleucus) COURTESY OF MRS VALERIE FISHER

The Magpie Shrike, also known as the African Long-tailed Shrike, is a striking bird belonging to the family Laniidae. It is characterized by its elongated tail and contrasting black and white plumage, reminiscent of the European magpie, though they are not closely related.

This species can be identified by its long tail, which is almost the length of its body, and its black and white coloration. The bird's back is predominantly black, with white underparts and a white patch on the wing. The head is black with a white belly and flanks, and the eyes are keen and alert.

The Magpie Shrike is native to the grasslands of eastern and southeastern Africa. It thrives in dry savannah, moist savannah, and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, preferring open areas with scattered acacia trees, close-grazed turf, and bare ground.

This bird is found across a range of African countries, including Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It is common in places within this range.

The Magpie Shrike is a gregarious and social bird, often found in noisy groups of about a dozen. These groups occupy a home range of several tens of hectares. During the breeding season, they display a variety of behaviors such as bowing, tail flicking, wing raising, and whistling to communicate and establish bonds.

19-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - MAGPIE SHRIKE (Corvinella melanoleuca)

The Magpie Shrike, also known as the African Long-tailed Shrike, is a striking bird belonging to the family Laniidae. It is characterized by its elongated tail and contrasting black and white plumage, reminiscent of the European magpie, though they are not closely related.

This species can be identified by its long tail, which is almost the length of its body, and its black and white coloration. The bird's back is predominantly black, with white underparts and a white patch on the wing. The head is black with a white belly and flanks, and the eyes are keen and alert.

The Magpie Shrike is native to the grasslands of eastern and southeastern Africa. It thrives in dry savannah, moist savannah, and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, preferring open areas with scattered acacia trees, close-grazed turf, and bare ground.

This bird is found across a range of African countries, including Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It is common in places within this range.

The Magpie Shrike is a gregarious and social bird, often found in noisy groups of about a dozen. These groups occupy a home range of several tens of hectares. During the breeding season, they display a variety of behaviors such as bowing, tail flicking, wing raising, and whistling to communicate and establish bonds.

The calls of the Magpie Shrike include a variety of whistles and chatters. During courtship, the male and female may perform duets, which are an integral part of their breeding rituals.

Breeding occurs cooperatively during the rainy season. The birds defend a breeding territory of about three hectares from other groups. The female may call from the nest while the male brings her food, indicating a strong pair bond during this period.

The diet of the Magpie Shrike consists mainly of arthropods, insects, lizards, small mammals, and occasionally fruit. They forage by perching in elevated positions and scanning the ground for prey, adeptly catching most on the ground, though they are also capable of snatching flying insects mid-air.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed the Magpie Shrike as being of "Least Concern," indicating that, at present, there are no immediate threats to its population numbers that would warrant a higher level of concern.