Southern White-crowned Shrike
Eurocephalus anguitimens
Woodland. White crown; light brown mantle; dark wings; tail, lores and ear coverts, throat and breast white; belly to vent light brown.
LC
Near Endemic
Description
Common, near-endemic resident. Distinguished by large size, bulky shape, white crown and black mask. Sexes are alike. Has a fluttering, almost hawk-like flight. Utters a curious ‘kwep, kwep’ sound. Occurs singly or in small, scattered groups in mixed bushveld, thornveld and broad-leaved woodland. Perches conspicuously on a branch or roadside telephone wire, from where it still-hunts.
Quick Facts
Size
23-25 cm - M
Names
A: Kremetartlaksman
G: Weißscheitelwürger
Bird Family
Insectivorous or partially carnivorous birds with stout, hooked or slightly hooked bills. They are sometimes known as ‘butcher birds' (genus *Lanius* means ‘butcher') because of their habit of sometimes impaling insects or small animals on a thorn or fence wire, returning later to eat. Habitat preference is for open woodland, where they will still-hunt from a perch.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
Occurs singly or in small, scattered groups in mixed bushveld, thornveld and 'broad-leaved woodland'.
