Lanius excubitoroides
The Grey-backed Fiscal (Lanius excubitoroides) is a striking passerine bird of the Laniidae family, renowned for its "butcher bird" habits across East and Central Africa. Measuring approximately 23-25 cm in length and weighing between 40-60 grams, this medium-sized shrike is easily identified by its predominantly grey upperparts, including the crown, nape, and back, which contrast sharply with its clean white underparts. A prominent black mask extends from the lores through the eye to the ear...
The Grey-backed Fiscal primarily inhabits open savannas, dry bushland, and acacia woodlands, often near cultivated areas with scattered trees or bushes. It typically occurs at low to mid-elevations across its African range.
This carnivorous shrike feeds predominantly on large insects like grasshoppers, beetles, and crickets, supplemented with small vertebrates such as lizards, snakes, rodents, frogs, and even small birds. It primarily forages by "perch-and-pounce" from an elevated perch.
Highly diurnal and conspicuous, the Grey-backed Fiscal spends much of its day perched on elevated vantage points such as thorn bushes, fence posts, or power lines, scanning for prey. Its primary foraging strategy is a classic "perch-and-pounce," where it swoops down rapidly to capture insects or ...
The Grey-backed Fiscal boasts a wide distribution across East and Central Africa, stretching from Ethiopia and Somalia in the northeast, south through Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and Burundi. Its range extends further into Tanzania, eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, and Malawi...
Least Concern
- The Grey-backed Fiscal is often called a "butcher bird" due to its remarkable habit of impaling prey on thorns or barbed wire. - These impaled prey items, known as a "shrike's larder," serve not only for storage but also aid in tearing apart larger meals with their hooked bill. - Despite its re...