White-tailed Shrike
Lanioturdus torquatus
Arid woodland. Black and white with grey mantle and flanks; yellow eyes.
LC
Near Endemic
Description
Fairly common, localised, near-endemic resident. Small black, white and grey bird with a very short tail and long legs. Has a loud, clear ‘huo-huo-huo’ call similar to [Black-headed Oriole], plus various querulous churrs, croaks and scolding notes. An active, restless species of striking appearance. Found in pairs or small groups (flocks of up to 20 in winter) in thornveld and mixed woodland in Namibia, spending much time hopping about on the ground with characteristic bouncing gait.
Quick Facts
Size
15 cm - S
Names
A: Kortstertlaksman
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
Found in pairs or small groups ('flocks' of up to 20 in winter) in thornveld and mixed woodland in Namibia, spending much time hopping about on the ground with characteristic bouncing gait.
