Grey-backed Fiscal
A species of Typical shrikes, Also known as Gray-backed Fiscal Shrike Scientific name : Lanius excubitoroides Genus : Typical shrikes
Grey-backed Fiscal, A species of Typical shrikes
Also known as:
Gray-backed Fiscal Shrike
Botanical name: Lanius excubitoroides
Genus: Typical shrikes
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Fabrice Stoger , used under CC-BY-SA-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Description
This is a large shrike with a length of about 25 cm (10 in). The head of the male has a grey crown, a white supercilium and a large black mask. The upper parts are medium grey, the rump is white, the wings are blackish, with a white patch which is conspicuous in flight, and the long tail has a white base and a black tip. The underparts and base of the underside of the tail are white. The female is similar but has patches of chestnut on the flanks that are visible during display and when the bird is preening. The juvenile is brownish with brown wings and tail and is heavily barred with grey.
Size
26 cm
Nest Placement
Shrub
Feeding Habits
Grey-backed Fiscal predominantly consumes arthropods, including caterpillars and ants, termites, and occasionally small vertebrates like frogs and birds. Grey-backed Fiscal forages solo within group territories but may congregate at abundant food sources. It typically hunts from perches, capturing prey on the ground or in flight, and is known for impaling and caching food.
Habitat
Grey-backed Fiscal thrives in environments characterized by thorn-scrub and open acacia savannas, favoring bushy and wooded grassland as well as open woodlands. It is adaptable to human-altered landscapes, including gardens, parks, and cultivated areas with a presence of medium-tall trees. The species' breeding grounds typically feature stands of yellow-barked acacia accompanied by understorey perennial shrubs and grasses like Naivasha star grass, which support a rich insect fauna in the dry season. Grey-backed Fiscal is predominantly a lowland inhabitant within its broader geographical range.
Dite type
Carnivorous
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Photo By Fabrice Stoger , used under CC-BY-SA-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
True shrikes Genus
Typical shrikes Species
Grey-backed Fiscal