Photo: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Southern Fiscal
Lanius collaris
Southern Fiscal (Lanius collaris) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Southern Fiscal (Lanius collaris) is a member of the Laniidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 36.4 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 collaris
Where it lives
Namibia, southwestern Angola east to southern Mozambique and southern South Africa; also northeastern, central, southwestern Tanzania and northern Malawi
Quick facts
- Weight
- 36.4 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Laniidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Critically Endangered
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Southern Fiscal is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Southern Fiscal is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Southern Fiscal (Lanius collaris) is a member of the Laniidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Namibia, sw Angola e to s Mozambique and s South Africa; also ne, c, sw Tanzania and n Malawi.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 36.4 g, with a wing length of about 9.5 cm and a tail of around 11.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 7.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Southern Fiscal?
The Southern Fiscal is a small bird that weighs around 36.4 g.
Where does the Southern Fiscal live?
The Southern Fiscal is found across Africa with a range covering AF Namibia, sw Angola e to s Mozambique and s South Africa; also ne, c, sw Tanzania and n Malawi, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Southern Fiscal belong to?
The Southern Fiscal (Lanius collaris) belongs to the Laniidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Southern Fiscal eat?
The Southern Fiscal is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Southern Fiscal migrate?
The Southern Fiscal is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Southern 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 Southern Fiscal make?
1 real field recording of the Southern Fiscal — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Southern Fiscal's range?
The Southern Fiscal has a mapped global range of about 7.2 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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