Bird Guide

Grey-backed Fiscal vs Long-tailed Fiscal

Grey-backed Fiscal (Lanius excubitoroides)

Grey-backed Fiscal

Lanius excubitoroides

Small54 gShrubland

This is a large shrike with a length of about 25 cm (10 in). The head of the male has a grey crown, a white supercilium and a large black mask. The upper parts are medium grey, the rump is white, the wings are blackish, with a white patch which is conspicuous in flight, and the long tail has a white base and a black tip. The underparts and base of the underside of the tail are white. The female is similar but has patches of chestnut on the flanks that are visible during display and when the bird is preening. The juvenile is brownish with brown wings and tail and is heavily barred with grey.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Sri Srikumar · CC0
Long-tailed Fiscal (Lanius cabanisi)

Long-tailed Fiscal

Lanius cabanisi

Medium74 gShrubland

Like many shrike species the appearance of the adults is similar between the sexes but strikingly different in juvenile birds. Adult birds are between 26 and 30 cm (10–12 in) in length and weigh between 69 and 80 g (2.4–2.8 oz) (with males averaging slightly heavier). They are large and robust with, as the name suggests, very long graduated tails and typical strong heavy bills. Moreover, L. cabanisi is more compact, and has less slim feet than L. collaris.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Long-tailed Fiscal
Recorded by Frank shirima · Call · Kudu Hills,Mererani, Simanjiro, Manyara Region, Tanzania · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Irene · CC0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Grey-backed Fiscal and Long-tailed Fiscal.