Isabelline Shrike vs Northern Fiscal

Isabelline Shrike

Lanius isabellinus

Small25 gShrubland

The plumage is isabelline, the sandy colour which gives rise to its name. It has a red tail. Young birds can be distinguished from young red-backed shrikes by the much sparser vermiculations on the underparts.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Кирилл · CC BY 4.0

Northern Fiscal

Lanius humeralis

42 gGrassland

This is a fairly distinctive 21–23 cm long passerine with white underparts and black upperparts extending from the top of the head down to the tail. The bird has a characteristic white 'V' on the back and a relatively long black tail with white outer feathers and white tips on the other feathers. The bill, eyes and legs are black. Adult male and female northern fiscals are quite similar except for the rufous lower flank of the female. Voice: It gives a jumbled mix of shrike-like swizzling sounds including some imitations and a harsh Dzzzttt-dzzzt-dzzzt alarm call.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recorded by paulo kivuyo · Engare Nanyuki, Arusha Rural, Arusha Region, Tanzania · CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Sri Srikumar · CC0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Isabelline Shrike and Northern Fiscal.