Alternative name: Northern White-crowned Shrike
- Eurocephalus ruppelli
Identification
19–23 cm
- White crown and rump
- Black eyestripe
- Brown back and wings
- Black tail
- White throat, breast and belly
- Brown flanks
Sexes are similar
Juvenile: brown crown, white head sides, and grey breast.
Distribution
East Africa: found in southeastern South Sudan and Uganda to Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Dry thornbush, semi-desert and open acacia woodland.
Behaviour
Flight
Flight is reminiscent of a parrot. They use exposed perches for hunting, including the backs of large mammals (like oxpeckers).
Diet
Ground-feeders, the diet includes large insects and occasionally fruit.
Breeding
The cup nest has a thick wall and is formed from grass and spider webs. The clutch consists of 2-4 white or lilac eggs which are blotched with grey, purple or brown.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Wikipedia
- BF Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2021) White-rumped Shrike. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 29 April 2021 from https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/White-rumped_Shrike
