Lanius collaris
The Common Fiscal, or Southern Fiscal or Fiscal Shrike, is a familiar garden bird in South Africa, usually seen singly or in territorial pairs. Adults weigh about 40g and measure around 22cm in length. They prefer open habitats but are extremely adaptable to both natural and man-made environments. Fiscals feed on a wide variety of vertebrate and invertebrate prey ranging in size from flies, caterpillars and moths to frogs, lizards, snakes, birds and mice (occasionally fruit) and hunt from open perches, usually catching their prey on the ground. Their habit of impaling large prey items on thorns or barbed wire to consume later has earned them the alternative name of “butcher bird”.
Fiscal Shrikes breed throughout the year, with a peak during spring and summer, and pairs may raise as many as three broods in a year. The male defends the pair’s territory while the female does most of the nest-building, using vegetation and other soft materials to fashion a thick-walled cup in a thorny bush or tree. It is also the female that does most of the brooding, with clutches of 1-5 eggs hatching around two weeks after incubation started. The male then helps to feed the hatchlings, which leave the nest when they’re about 3 weeks old but stay in their parents’ territory for about another 3 months more.
The Common Fiscal is considered of least concern by the IUCN and distributed widely over sub-Saharan Africa. In South Africa they are found in virtually every corner of the country.
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Sassy little guys!
Very much so!
Glad nie lekkerbekkig nie, onse moordvoël!! 😉
Help om te oorleef as jy nie vol fiemies is nie!
Interesting little character!
Certainly punches way above its weight class!
Same scary nickname as our Florida Loggerhead Shrike! There’s something so uniquely special about these songbirds who are also birds of prey.
Just goes to show that nature will fill a niche!
Darem ‘n wrede besigheid! Is dit ‘n padda wat daar vasgepen is? Mooi foto’s, Dries.
Dankie, Dina. Ja, dis n redelik groot padda wat daar aan die doringdraad opgehang is.
Oh dear. I was thinking what a cute little bird it was …. until I saw what they do to their victims 😳
Definitely a case of deceptive appearances!
I enjoy observing the pair in our garden.
They’re probably the chiefs-in-charge there, Anne?
They are – especially when there are some particularly tasty treats on offer!
Op daardie een foto kan mens sy wrede bekkie so mooi sien!
En hulle kan daai snaweltjie so goed gebruik!
Gorgeous shots, Dries. 🙂
Thanks, Sylvia!
Fascinating, Dries. Beautiful shots.
Thank you very much, Jane!
“Butcher Bird”! I wonder why other birds would not steal their impaled prey items.
My guess would be that other birds stay well clear for fear of becoming attacked and impaled themselves!