7-4-2018 THORNYBUSH LODGE, SOUTH AFRICA - SOUTHERN WHITE CROWNED SHRIKE (Eurocephalus angustimens)

The Southern White-crowned Shrike, a bird of modest size, measures approximately 24 centimeters from beak to tail. Both male and female exhibit a similar plumage pattern. The adult's most striking feature is its brilliant white crown and forehead, contrasted by a stark black mask that extends from above the eye to the neck's sides. The bird's upper parts are an ashy-brown, while the wings and tail display a darker brown hue. Its underparts are an off-white, with the upper breast showing a hint of buff and the lower belly and vent areas returning to an ashy-brown. The beak, eyes, and legs are all a deep, dark brown. Juvenile birds share a resemblance with adults but have a crown that is mottled and barred with grey rather than pure white, and their underparts bear a wash of ashy brown.

When identifying the Southern White-crowned Shrike, look for the distinctive white crown and black mask, as well as the ashy-brown upper parts and off-white underparts. The bird's beak is notably black, which can be a helpful marker in the field.

This species is known to inhabit subtropical or tropical dry forests and dry savannahs, where it can be observed living and foraging.

The Southern White-crowned Shrike graces the skies and landscapes of several African countries, including Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

This bird is highly sociable, often seen in small, tightly-knit groups that can range from three to six individuals, and sometimes even up to twenty outside the breeding season. They exhibit cooperative behavior, especially evident during breeding when they build nests together, share incubation duties, and collectively feed the nestlings. While not typically aggressive, they will valiantly defend against predators, particularly birds of prey. In their foraging efforts, they may associate with Tockus hornbills, capitalizing on the insects disturbed by these larger birds.

The Southern White-crowned Shrike communicates with its own unique vocalizations, which are an integral part of its social behavior and can be heard throughout its habitat.

These birds engage in cooperative breeding, a remarkable behavior where group members collaborate in constructing the nest, incubating the eggs, and feeding the young.

While there are other shrikes with similar features, the Southern White-crowned Shrike can be distinguished by its unique coloration and behavior patterns.

The diet of the Southern White-crowned Shrike includes insects, which they often forage for in the company of Tockus hornbills, taking advantage of the larger birds' ability to flush out prey.

The Southern White-crowned Shrike is currently classified as "Least Concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), indicating a stable population without any immediate threats to its survival.

28-5-2019 SOMALISA CAMP, ZIMBABWE - SOUTHERN WHITE CROWNED SHRIKE (Eurocephalus angustimens)

28-5-2019 SOMALISA CAMP, ZIMBABWE - SOUTHERN WHITE CROWNED SHRIKE (Eurocephalus angustimens)

The southern white-crowned shrike (Eurocephalus anguitimens) is a species of bird in the family Laniidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and dry savannah.

The southern white-crowned shrike grows to a length of about 24 cm (9 in). The sexes are alike; in the adult bird the crown and forehead are white, and the mask is black and extends above and below the eye to the side of the neck. The nape and upper parts are ashy-brown and the wings and tail are dark brown. The underparts are off-white, the upper breast being tinged with buff. The lower belly and vent areas are ashy-brown. The beak is black, the eyes brown and the legs dark brown. Juveniles are similar to adult birds but the crown is slightly mottled and barred and grey rather than white. The chin and throat are white but the remaining parts of the underparts are tinged with ashy brown.

Like the closely related northern white-crowned shrike, this species is highly sociable and will form small, tightly-knit groups of usually three to six individuals, but occasionally up to twenty outside the breeding season. They are not in general aggressive birds but will attack predators such as birds of prey. When foraging, they sometimes associate with Tockus hornbills, feeding on the insects they disturb as they walk around. Members of the group engage in cooperative breeding, join together in building a brooding nest, take turns in sitting on the eggs, and assist in the feeding of nestlings.

The southern white-crowned shrike has a very wide range and is described as being very common in places, though rare in others. No particular threats have been recognised and the population seems stable. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".

9-6-2019 KWHAI CAMP, BOTSWANA - SOUTHERN WHITE CROWNED SHRIKE (Eurocephalus angustimens)

7-4-2018 THORNYBUSH LODGE, SOUTH AFRICA - SOUTHERN WHITE CROWNED SHRIKE (Eurocephalus angustimens)

The Southern White-crowned Shrike, a bird of modest size, measures approximately 24 centimeters from beak to tail. Both male and female exhibit a similar plumage pattern. The adult's most striking feature is its brilliant white crown and forehead, contrasted by a stark black mask that extends from above the eye to the neck's sides. The bird's upper parts are an ashy-brown, while the wings and tail display a darker brown hue. Its underparts are an off-white, with the upper breast showing a hint of buff and the lower belly and vent areas returning to an ashy-brown. The beak, eyes, and legs are all a deep, dark brown. Juvenile birds share a resemblance with adults but have a crown that is mottled and barred with grey rather than pure white, and their underparts bear a wash of ashy brown.

When identifying the Southern White-crowned Shrike, look for the distinctive white crown and black mask, as well as the ashy-brown upper parts and off-white underparts. The bird's beak is notably black, which can be a helpful marker in the field.

This species is known to inhabit subtropical or tropical dry forests and dry savannahs, where it can be observed living and foraging.

The Southern White-crowned Shrike graces the skies and landscapes of several African countries, including Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

This bird is highly sociable, often seen in small, tightly-knit groups that can range from three to six individuals, and sometimes even up to twenty outside the breeding season. They exhibit cooperative behavior, especially evident during breeding when they build nests together, share incubation duties, and collectively feed the nestlings. While not typically aggressive, they will valiantly defend against predators, particularly birds of prey. In their foraging efforts, they may associate with Tockus hornbills, capitalizing on the insects disturbed by these larger birds.

The Southern White-crowned Shrike communicates with its own unique vocalizations, which are an integral part of its social behavior and can be heard throughout its habitat.

These birds engage in cooperative breeding, a remarkable behavior where group members collaborate in constructing the nest, incubating the eggs, and feeding the young.

While there are other shrikes with similar features, the Southern White-crowned Shrike can be distinguished by its unique coloration and behavior patterns.

The diet of the Southern White-crowned Shrike includes insects, which they often forage for in the company of Tockus hornbills, taking advantage of the larger birds' ability to flush out prey.

The Southern White-crowned Shrike is currently classified as "Least Concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), indicating a stable population without any immediate threats to its survival.