Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Mackinnon’s Shrike
Lanius mackinnoni
Mackinnon's Shrike (Lanius mackinnoni) — 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 Mackinnon’s Shrike (Lanius mackinnoni) is a member of the Laniidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 34.3 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 mackinnoni
Where it lives
Southeastern Nigeria and Cameroon to northwestern Angola, northeastern Congo and northern DR Congo to western Kenya and northern Tanzania
Quick facts
- Weight
- 34.3 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Laniidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Mackinnon’s Shrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Mackinnon’s Shrike is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Mackinnon’s Shrike (Lanius mackinnoni) is a species of bird in the Laniidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF se Nigeria and Cameroon to nw Angola, ne Congo and n DR Congo to w Kenya and n Tanzania.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 34.3 g, with a wing length of about 8.5 cm and a tail of around 9.9 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 1.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Mackinnon’s Shrike?
The Mackinnon’s Shrike is a small bird that weighs around 34.3 g.
Where does the Mackinnon’s Shrike live?
The Mackinnon’s Shrike is found across Africa with a range covering AF se Nigeria and Cameroon to nw Angola, ne Congo and n DR Congo to w Kenya and n Tanzania, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Mackinnon’s Shrike belong to?
The Mackinnon’s Shrike (Lanius mackinnoni) belongs to the Laniidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Mackinnon’s Shrike eat?
The Mackinnon’s Shrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Mackinnon’s Shrike migrate?
The Mackinnon’s Shrike is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Mackinnon’s Shrike 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 Mackinnon’s Shrike make?
1 real field recording of the Mackinnon’s Shrike — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Mackinnon’s Shrike's range?
The Mackinnon’s Shrike has a mapped global range of about 1.2 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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