Photo: Jan Ebr / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Taita Fiscal
Lanius dorsalis
Taita Fiscal (Lanius dorsalis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Taita Fiscal (Lanius dorsalis) is a member of the Laniidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 49.9 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Laniidae Shrikes
- Genus Lanius
- Species dorsalis
Where it lives
Southeastern South Sudan, southern Ethiopia and central Somalia to northeastern Tanzania
Quick facts
- Weight
- 49.9 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Laniidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Taita Fiscal is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Taita Fiscal is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Taita Fiscal (Lanius dorsalis) is a member of the Laniidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF se South Sudan, s Ethiopia and c Somalia to ne Tanzania.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 49.9 g, with a wing length of about 10.1 cm and a tail of around 9.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Taita Fiscal?
The Taita Fiscal is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 49.9 g.
Where does the Taita Fiscal live?
The Taita Fiscal is found across Africa with a range covering AF se South Sudan, s Ethiopia and c Somalia to ne Tanzania, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Taita Fiscal belong to?
The Taita Fiscal (Lanius dorsalis) belongs to the Laniidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Taita Fiscal eat?
The Taita Fiscal is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Taita Fiscal migrate?
The Taita Fiscal is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Taita Fiscal endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Taita Fiscal make?
1 real field recording of the Taita Fiscal — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Taita Fiscal's range?
The Taita Fiscal has a mapped global range of about 1.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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