Photo: New Jersey Birds / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Magpie Shrike
Urolestes melanoleucus
Magpie Shrike (Urolestes melanoleucus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 7 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Magpie Shrike (Urolestes melanoleucus) is a member of the Laniidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 82.2 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 Urolestes
- Species melanoleucus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 82.2 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Laniidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Magpie 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 Magpie Shrike is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Magpie Shrike (Urolestes melanoleucus) is a member of the Laniidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF c, e.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 82.2 g, with a wing length of about 13.5 cm and a tail of around 28.9 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 1.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Magpie Shrike?
The Magpie Shrike is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 82.2 g.
Where does the Magpie Shrike live?
The Magpie Shrike is found across Africa with a range covering AF c, e, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Magpie Shrike belong to?
The Magpie Shrike (Urolestes melanoleucus) belongs to the Laniidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Magpie Shrike eat?
The Magpie Shrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Magpie Shrike migrate?
The Magpie Shrike is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Magpie 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 Magpie Shrike make?
1 real field recording of the Magpie Shrike — 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 Magpie Shrike's range?
The Magpie Shrike has a mapped global range of about 1.7 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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