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Fiscal shrike


Fiscal shrike
Photo Information
Copyright: Robin Du Bois (robindb) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 123 W: 0 N: 363] (1370)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-12-04
Categories: Birds
Camera: Cannon EOS 350D, Sigma 170-500mm APO
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/400 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-02-10 4:54
Viewed: 791
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
My identification on this one might not be 100% so please correct me if I am wrong. This bird was photographed in the Addo Elephant Park from the car window with the camera on a bean bag. The branch that it is perched on is typical of the flora found there.

Common Fiscal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Common Fiscal (Lanius collaris) is a member of the shrike family found through most of Sub-Saharan Africa. It is also sometimes named Fiscal Shrike, as well as "Jacky Hanger" due to its habit of impaling its prey on acacia thorns to store the food for later consumption.
Identification
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. A western race is distinct in showing a clear white eyebrow.
The adult Common Fiscal is distinguished from other black-headed fiscals by the back and tail pattern, if those are well seen. In that case it only be confused with the Fiscal Flycatcher, although the white wing bar is restricted to the lower wing of the latter, which also lacks the heavy hooked shrike bill of the Common Fiscal.
Juveniles offer more identification challenges. A likely source of confusion is with the juvenile Red-backed Shrike, the main differences being
• the lack of a white eyebrow, which is present in the juvenile Red-backed Shrikes,
• barring on the belly instead of the crescent marks present in the juvenile Red-backed Shrike,
• a browner back than the rufous back of the Red-backed Shrike.
Habits
The Common Fiscal is usually solitary and hunts insects and small rodents from an exposed perch or the tops of shrubs. Territorial size is directly related to the density of hunting perches. Installing more artificial perches causes the fiscal to reduce its territory size and allow more birds in the affected range.
Habitat
The Common Fiscal lives in a wide range of habitats from grassland with fences for perching to acacia thornveld or even woodland, but avoids very dense habitats where its hunting would be impaired.
Call
It gives a jumbled mix of shrike-like swizzling sounds including some imitations and a harsh Dzzzttt-dzzzt-dzzzt alarm call.
Juyona, nglen, Argus, siggi has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

hi robin!
the blue background is perfect. it made the bird stood out =)
nice shot!

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1168 W: 261 N: 3035] (13835)
  • [2009-02-10 5:44]

Hi Robin,

A very nice capture of this shrike,I had a quick look in my SA birdbook and I think you are right about the ID (the greyish colors say it might be a juvenile,the rust colors says it is a female),perfect capture against the blueish sky,tfs

Paul

Hello Robin,
It's definitely a shrike:-)
Paul already verified the identification, I see.
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2262 W: 10 N: 2630] (15567)
  • [2009-02-10 10:55]

Hola Robin,
estupendo disparo y pose,
buen foco y detalles.
saludos

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2909 W: 34 N: 8636] (32186)
  • [2009-02-10 12:12]

Hi Robin. This is a good close up of the Fiscal shrike . Which you have taken with fine detail in the featehrs with natural colours. A good pose with its little head turned. Stands out so well from the blue sky. well done TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3819 W: 190 N: 11368] (35041)
  • [2009-02-11 3:37]

Hello Robin,
An excellent capture of a female Fiscal Shrike (I agree with your ID) taken from a fine POV that shows most of its features with very good sharpness in this fine frame-filling composition against a blue sky.
Thanks and best wishes,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1376 W: 56 N: 4736] (16296)
  • [2009-02-11 11:54]

Hello Robin,
Very good details in this nicely composed image!
Good textures in the feather coat, where the angle of lighting is interesting.
Good point of view and a fine,composition!
Best regards Siggi

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 226 N: 6845] (24727)
  • [2009-02-12 8:20]

Hi Robin,
a very good shot of this Shrike.
Razor-sharp details, superb composition, great lighting and natural colours.

Well done,
Joe

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