Photo: Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Northern White-crowned Shrike
Eurocephalus ruppelli
Northern White-crowned Shrike (Eurocephalus ruppelli) — 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 Northern White-crowned Shrike (Eurocephalus ruppelli) is a member of the Laniidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 50.6 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 Eurocephalus
- Species ruppelli
Where it lives
Southeastern South Sudan, central Ethiopia and central Somalia to central Tanzania
Quick facts
- Weight
- 50.6 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Laniidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Northern White-crowned Shrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Northern White-crowned Shrike is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Northern White-crowned Shrike (Eurocephalus ruppelli) is a species of bird in the Laniidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF se South Sudan, c Ethiopia and c Somalia to c Tanzania.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 50.6 g, with a wing length of about 12.5 cm and a tail of around 9.6 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 1.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Northern White-crowned Shrike?
The Northern White-crowned Shrike is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 50.6 g.
Where does the Northern White-crowned Shrike live?
The Northern White-crowned Shrike is found across Africa with a range covering AF se South Sudan, c Ethiopia and c Somalia to c Tanzania, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Northern White-crowned Shrike belong to?
The Northern White-crowned Shrike (Eurocephalus ruppelli) belongs to the Laniidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Northern White-crowned Shrike eat?
The Northern White-crowned Shrike is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Northern White-crowned Shrike migrate?
The Northern White-crowned Shrike is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Northern White-crowned 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 Northern White-crowned Shrike make?
1 real field recording of the Northern White-crowned 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 Northern White-crowned Shrike's range?
The Northern White-crowned Shrike has a mapped global range of about 1.8 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.
Explore more birds
More in Laniidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.