The magpie shrike is a small to medium-sized bird found in sub-Saharan Africa. In Afrikaans, it is known by several common names including langstertswaaierstert, bonte waaierstert, and bont waaierstert. The magpie shrike belongs to the family Laniidae and its scientific name is Urolestes melanoleucus.
Physical Description
The magpie shrike is distinctive in appearance with black and white plumage. The head, throat, wings and tail are black, while the underside of the body and rump are white. There is a broad white stripe on the wings when folded. The eyes are reddish-brown. The stout black bill is hooked at the tip. The legs and feet are black.
Male and female magpie shrikes look similar, although the male has a longer tail. Juveniles have scalloped black and brown feathers which become white as they mature. Their eyes are dark grey or brown.
Magpie shrikes reach a body length of 18 to 22 cm and weigh between 28 to 48 grams. The long graduated tail adds another 8 to 13 cm in length.
Distribution and Habitat
Magpie shrikes have a wide distribution across sub-Saharan Africa. Their range stretches from Senegal and Gambia in West Africa to Ethiopia and Somalia in East Africa, and southwards to South Africa. They are found in most countries of mainland Africa.
This species occupies open woodland habitats including savanna and bushveld. They prefer areas interspersed with trees, especially acacias. Magpie shrikes can also live in agricultural areas, gardens and parks in urban areas.
Behavior and Diet
Magpie shrikes are conspicuous and noisy birds. They are often seen perched prominently on wires or the tops of bushes or trees. They adopt an upright stance and frequently jerk or fan their long tail upwards.
They feed on insects, small reptiles and amphibians, and occasionally seeds and berries. Hunting takes place from an exposed perch as magpie shrikes scan the ground for prey. When prey is spotted, they swiftly fly or glide down to seize it in their bill. Larger prey items may be beaten against a branch to kill or break into smaller pieces.
Breeding
The breeding season varies across the range, but usually takes place in the wet summer months. Magpie shrikes are monogamous, mating for life. The nest is an untidy cup of twigs and grass, lined with feathers and hair. It is built in a fork of a tree, usually acacia, 3 to 10 meters above the ground.
The female lays 2 to 5 eggs which she incubates alone for 14 to 16 days. The male helps feed the young birds which fledge after another 18 to 21 days in the nest. Magpie shrikes may raise several broods in a season.
Taxonomy
The magpie shrike was described by German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1788. No subspecies are recognized. It is classified as follows:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Passeriformes
- Family: Laniidae
- Genus: Urolestes
- Species: U. melanoleucus
The genus name Urolestes is derived from two Greek words meaning ‘tail’ and ‘robber’, referring to their habit of fanning the long tail. The species name melanoleucus is also from Greek, meaning ‘black’ and ‘white’.
Common Names
The magpie shrike has many common names in different African languages including:
- Afrikaans – Langstertswaaierstert, bonte waaierstert, bont waaierstert
- Zulu – Tshelamankosi
- Xhosa – Utyhutyhu
- Sesotho – Thaha-li-lepu
- Setswana – Thaatsaa-molodi
Other English names used include long-tailed fiscal, long-tailed fiscal shrike, long-tailed shrike and butcher bird.
Significance
Magpie shrikes play an important role in controlling agricultural pests such as locusts and rodents. Their predators include hawks, owls and snakes. These shrikes may in turn prey on smaller birds.
In many African cultures, the magpie shrike is viewed as an omen bird. Its noisy chattering is believed to announce an impending visitor or hunters returning home. They sometimes feature in folklore as trickster characters. Their sharp claws and beaks can give a painful bite if handled.
Threats and Conservation Status
Magpie shrikes have a wide range and large population with no major threats. They are classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Their population appears to be stable.
However, they face some pressure from capture for the pet trade and use in traditional medicine in parts of their range. Habitat loss to deforestation is a local threat in some regions.
Conclusion
In summary, the magpie shrike is a distinctive black and white bird found widely across sub-Saharan Africa where it is known by many local names such as langstertswaaierstert in Afrikaans. It occupies diverse habitats from woodlands to urban gardens. A noisy predator, it feeds on insects, small vertebrates and some plant matter. Magpie shrikes breed during the summer months, building a nest in a tree fork. Widespread and common, their conservation status is currently of Least Concern.