Shrikes - Raptors in miniature

Throughout Africa, shrikes of numerous species enliven woodlands, forests, gardens and scrublands with their ringing calls and often bold presence. Shrikes fall into several groups or sub-families. They are all primarily insectivorous, but some of the larger species frequently prey upon the nestlings of other birds, lizards and other small reptiles. All have robust beaks, often with a fierce hook at its tip. Most appear to pair for life, and the characteristic duet calls are a way of keeping in touch and maintaining the 'marital' bond.

The perch hunters

Several varieties of shrike typically perch in conspicuous places and pounce upon unwitting prey. The Common Fiscal Shrike is well known throughout most of South and Eastern Africa where it occurs in farmlands, grasslands and suburban gardens. Also known as the 'Jacky Hangman', the fiscal is in the habit of impaling its prey on barbed-wire fences or acacia thorns. Intruders are kept from this storage 'larder' by hoarse calls and aerial attacks. Similarly conspicuous in woodlands and savannah is the Long-tailed (Magpie) Shrike, which lives in small groups that keep in touch with plaintive, whistled calls. The Red-backed Shrike breeds in Southern Europe (and formerly England) but migrates to Africa between September and March, when large numbers can be seen perched on fence posts and the outer branches of bushveld trees.

United we stand, forage, and breed

The so-called helmetshrikes are among the most interesting of African birds. The cheerful White Helmetshrike is common in acacia and broad-leaved woodlands, where family parties occupy set territories. The families (usually between five and nine in number) comprise a breeding male and female (perhaps paired for life) together with their offspring from previous years. Rather than go out into the world and find a mate of their own, the youngsters gain experience by assisting their parents in raising further broods. It is always a wonderful sight to see these distinctive black and white birds, moving from tree-to-tree, one-by-one, looking for all the world like giant butterflies. The less common Red-billed Helmetshrike, typically forages in the canopy of trees, often along watercourses or rivers, and is occasionally hoodwinked by the parasitic Thick-billed Cuckoo which lays its own egg among the helmetshrike's brood. The Northern and Southern White-crowned Shrikes are also co-operative breeders and almost identical in appearance, but deemed separate species on account of their rump colour.

Secretive skulkers

Very many members of the shrike family are shy and retiring and give themselves away only by their loud, insistent and liquid calls. The aptly-named Gorgeous Bushshrike is a riot of colour when seen from the front, but drab olive green on its upper-parts. The so-called boubou shrikes include the confiding Slate-coloured Boubou, strident Tropical Boubou, and feisty Southern Boubou - all loud of voice but feared nest-robbers. One of the largest members of the family is the Grey-headed Bushshrike, an imposing bird with eerie pale eyes and haunting ghost-like call; with its hook-tipped beak, it is not afraid to tackle chameleons and small snakes. The drably-colour tchagras can be considered among the skulkers, with the Black-crowned Tchagra having one of the loveliest of all African birds calls - a descending, whooping whistle. A small shrike which is more often heard than seen is the Brubru, a little black and white bird with chestnut flanks, which has a call so similar to a telephone ring that people have been seen to check that their cellular phones have indeed been switched off when out birding or on safari!

If you've got it, flaunt it

Two of the most eye-catching shrikes are the brilliant Crimson-breasted Shrike of dry acacia scrublands and Kalahari Desert, and the very vocal Bokmakierie of highveld grassland, Karoo and Cape fynbos. The former looks positively dazzling as it moves among the dry branches and white thorns, and frequently hops on the ground, in search of caterpillars and beetles. The Bokmakierie usually draws attention to itself with its beautiful, varied duet call, and is not at all shy about displaying its bright yellow throat patch and black 'necklace'.

Where to see shrikes at CC Africa lodges

No matter which CC Africa lodge you may visit, there will be a good variety of shrikes in and around the camp, and to be seen out on walks or drives. In East Africa, the opportunity to see a good number of less common shrikes exists. The scarce and elusive Black-fronted Bushshrike is occasionally seen in mist-belt forest close to Tanzania's Ngorongoro Crater Lodge. The Black-headed Gonolek is regularly heard, and often seen in riverine thickets at Grumeti. At Kichwa Tembo, in Kenya's Masai Mara, pairs of Lühder's Bushshrike are occasional visitors from the Mau forests to the east.

Posted: Birds by CC Africa, Date: 21 November 2006