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GrasslandCup nestSmall · 36 g
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 common fiscals are quite similar except for the rufous lower flank of the female. The calls are 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 Southern Fiscal
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is December, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Southern Fiscal
The map shades 17 countries with regular records, and 3 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
About the Southern Fiscal
The southern fiscal or fiscal shrike is a member of the shrike family found through most of southern Africa. It is also sometimes named jackie hangman or butcher bird due to its habit of impaling its prey on acacia thorns to store the food for later consumption. It was previously lumped together with the northern fiscal. Together they were known as the common fiscal.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Long-tailed ShrikeLanius schachThe long-tailed shrike is a typical shrike, favouring dry open habitats and found perched prominently atop a bush or on a wire.
Brown ShrikeLanius cristatusThis shrike is mainly brown on the upper parts and the tail is rounded.
Northern ShrikeLanius borealisThe loggerhead shrike can be distinguished from the northern shrike by its smaller size, darker grey plumage and larger black face mask that covers the eye completely.
Side by side: Great Grey Shrike vs Southern Fiscal · Brown Shrike vs Southern Fiscal · Long-tailed Shrike vs Southern Fiscal · Northern Shrike vs Southern Fiscal
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