A photo of a White-tailed Shrike (Lanioturdus torquatus)
White-tailed Shrike

White-tailed Shrike

Lanioturdus torquatus

The white-tailed shrike (Lanioturdus torquatus) is a small passerine bird from the family Platysteiridae. It is also known as the chatshrike or ground batis. It occurs only in western Angola and Namibia in thorn scrub. It forages from ground level, where it hops about in large bounds and upright posture, to 25m above ground, scanning for insects. The very short tail, with a small black mark at the tip of the central two feathers, is always carried down, never sticking up. Its range of calls includes loud ringing territorial whistles. It is a common, endemic, breeding resident in the region, small seasonal migrations taking place. Its favoured habitat is scrub-savanna, thornbush and mopane-veld. It is found singly or in pairs during the breeding season, and in small groups at other times. It is a clumsy flier with shallow and rapid wingbeats like other batises. Nests are usually located in thorny acacias and are constructed by both sexes. Nests are deep, neat well-moulded cups incorporating spider-web and placed about 3 metres above ground. The usual clutch is 2-3 eggs pale-green to white with sparse reddish-brown spots. Only the female incubates the eggs.
Birda logo
Download Birda for free and join the community of curious everyday people connecting with the natural world
Birda logo
Download Birda for free and join the community

White-tailed Shrikes on Birda

Sightings

A map showing the sighting location
🦢
Buzzy Joell
Thursday 02 Mar 2023 - 9:56am
Namibia
A map showing the sighting location
🦢
Stephen Davies
Thursday 07 Nov 2019 - 6:02am
Namibia
A map showing the sighting location
🐾
Henry Symington
Monday 18 Mar 2019 - 9:54am
Namibia
A map showing the sighting location
🦆
John White
Sunday 13 Sep 2015 - 7:04am
Namibia
Connect with nature,
Find your flock
Copyright © 2023 Chirp Birding Ltd. All rights reserved.