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Grassland42 g
What the Northern Fiscal sounds like
ID tip
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.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Northern Fiscal
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is November, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Northern Fiscal
The map shades 24 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
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.
Easily confused with
Grey-backed ShrikeLanius tephronotusThe species is 21–25 cm long and weighs 39-54 g.
Masked ShrikeLanius nubicusThe masked shrike is the smallest of its genus, a slender bird which usually weighs 20–23 g (0.71–0.81 oz), measuring 17–18.5 cm (6.7–7.3 in) long with a 24–26.5 cm (9.4–10.4 in) wingspan.
Isabelline ShrikeLanius isabellinusThe plumage is isabelline, the sandy colour which gives rise to its name.
Side by side: Grey-backed Shrike vs Northern Fiscal · Masked Shrike vs Northern Fiscal · Isabelline Shrike vs Northern Fiscal
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