Red-tailed vs Red-backed Shrike, a nightjar - Tanzania (1 Viewer)

[Fancy]

I am curious if this young shrike I photographed in mixed woodland/grassland habitat near Ndutu Lake in the southern Serengeti is identifiable. The photos are quite horrible I know. There were adult Red-backed Shrikes nearby but I am unsure between young Red-backed and Red-tailed for this one.


I also have a nightjar from Lake Manyara NP that I am not at all sure about and would be appreciative of any ID suggestions. Unfortunately it was silent.


Both birds seen within the last week. Thank you!

 

[THE_FERN]

Suggest shrike is red-backed. In the first image there's a hint of the rufous mantle and some grey at the base of the neck. The tail doesn't look rufous in either pic.

For nightjar, perhaps female pennant winged, although if that's white in its wing it can't be a female and may not be this species. [Very dull with little pattern; broken golden band on coverts, diffuse, widely spaced thin dark tail bands

 

[njlarsen]

It seems that square-tailed nightjar is the most frequently observed species in the area?
Niels

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

I also think the shrike is Redbacked... due to same reasons as the fern has already given.
Not enough experience with nightjars in Africa to comment on that one ...

 

[Fancy]

Thanks all, Red-backed it is for the shrike.

The nightjar indeed did have the typical white bars near the tips of the primaries and a regular wing shape, so I don't think it's Pennant-winged...

 

[THE_FERN]

It seems that square-tailed nightjar is the most frequently observed species in the area?
Niels

Yes but you'll see from images that it's quite brightly coloured. It might be a very dull individual I suppose

 

[JWN Andrewes]

I would suggest Freckled for the Nightjar, relatively plain.

 

[njlarsen]

Yes but you'll see from images that it's quite brightly coloured. It might be a very dull individual I suppose

I did not look at images, only in my field guide where I could be convinced it would be a female of that.
Niels

 

[THE_FERN]

I did not look at images, only in my field guide where I could be convinced it would be a female of that.
Niels

Not sure which you're using. I find a) nightjars quite variable and b) generally illustrations aren't great for them, even in the best books

 

[njlarsen]

Not sure which you're using. I find a) nightjars quite variable and b) generally illustrations aren't great for them, even in the best books

East Africa by Stevenson and Fanshawe