Neha Patil (Editor)

Crimson breasted shrike

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Kingdom
  
Genus
  
Phylum
  
Chordata

Rank
  
Species

Family
  
Malaconotidae

Scientific name
  
Laniarius atrococcineus

Higher classification
  
Laniarius

Order
  
Passerine

Crimson-breasted shrike wwwstellenboschbirdscomakalImages47jpg

Similar
  
Bird, Laniarius, Bushshrike, Yellow‑crowned gonolek, Passerine

Crimson breasted shrike rotbauchw rger


The crimson-breasted shrike (Laniarius atrococcineus) or the crimson-breasted gonolek, ('gonolek' - supposedly imitative of its call), is a southern African bird. It has black upper parts with a white flash on the wing, and bright scarlet underparts. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated it as a "least-concern species".

Contents

Crimson-breasted shrike Crimsonbreasted Shrike Laniarius atrococcineus videos photos and

Crimson breasted shrike pete s pond july 24 2009


Taxonomy

Crimson-breasted shrike Winging It Crimsonbreasted shrike Wilkinson39s World

The species was first collected by William John Burchell in 1811 near the confluence of the Vaal and Orange Rivers. He named it atrococcineus meaning 'black/red', finding the striking colour combination quite remarkable. The generic name Laniarius was coined by the French ornithologist Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot and was meant to call attention to the butcher-like habits of the group. In South West Africa its colours reminded Germans of their homeland flag and it therefore became the Reichsvogel ("Empire bird"). The species is closely related to two other bushshrikes, the yellow-crowned gonolek (Laniarius barbarus) and the black-headed gonolek (Laniarius erythrogaster) of East Africa, but DNA research has shown that it does not form a superspecies with the yellow-crowned gonolek (L. barbarus), the black-headed gonolek (L. erythrogaster) and the papyrus gonolek (L. mufumbiri), as previously thought.

Description

Crimson-breasted shrike Crimsonbreasted shrike Wikipedia

The sexes have the same colouration and are indistinguishable from each other. The upper parts, including the wings and tail, are black, the wings having a broad white bar. The underparts are vivid scarlet. A yellow-breasted form is occasionally seen, and was at first thought to be a separate species. Young birds have a mottled and barred buff-brown appearance with a pale bill.

Behaviour

Crimson-breasted shrike Crimsonbreasted Shrike by Rooiborslaksman via wwwoutdoorphoto

This shrike is extremely nimble and restless, its penetrating whistles often being the first sign of its presence, although it is not a shy species.

Distribution and habitat

Crimson-breasted shrike Crimsonbreasted Shrike Bird amp Wildlife Photography by Richard and

The crimson-breasted shrike is non-migratory and occurs in a broad swathe from southern Angola to the Free State province in South Africa. Its preferred habitat is drier thornbush areas, in thickets and riparian scrub. It makes small seasonal migrations, preferring lower altitudes during cold periods.

Crimson-breasted shrike Laniarius atrococcineus Crimsonbreasted shrike Crimsonbreasted

References

Crimson-breasted shrike Wikipedia


Similar Topics