Northern Fiscal
Lanius humeralis
The Northern Fiscal (Lanius humeralis) is a uncommon shrik found in 24 countries. The northern fiscal is a member of the shrike family found through most of Sub-Saharan Africa.
About the Northern Fiscal
The northern fiscal is a member of the shrike family found through most of Sub-Saharan Africa. It used to be grouped with the southern fiscal. Together they were called the common fiscal. The fiscal gets its English and Afrikaans common names from its black and white 'suit-and-tie' appearance reminiscent of the taxman (‘fiscal’).
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
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.
What the Northern Fiscal sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
The Northern Fiscal can be seen all year round, with peak activity in November. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Northern Fiscal?
- 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. Full identification notes are on this page.
- Where can you see a Northern Fiscal?
- The Northern Fiscal occurs in 24 countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and Ghana.
- What does a Northern Fiscal sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the Northern Fiscal on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Northern Fiscal?
- The Northern Fiscal is most easily confused with the Grey-backed Shrike, the Masked Shrike and the Isabelline Shrike.
Learn the Northern Fiscal for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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