Somali fiscal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Somali fiscal |
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| Specimen at Nairobi National Museum | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Lanius
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| Species: |
somalicus
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The Somali fiscal (scientific name: Lanius somalicus) is a type of bird belonging to the shrike family, called Laniidae. People also know it as the Karoli fiscal or the Somali shrike. This bird lives in parts of Africa, including Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya. It prefers to live in dry, bushy areas.
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Where the Somali Fiscal Lives
The Somali fiscal bird is found in East Africa. Its home range includes most of Somalia, southern Djibouti, and parts of eastern and southern Ethiopia. You can also find it in southeastern South Sudan and northern Kenya. These birds usually live in open, grassy places and semi-desert areas that have some bushes.
When the Somali fiscal's home overlaps with another bird called the Taita fiscal, the Taita fiscal usually chooses places with more plants and less dry land. This helps both bird types find enough space and food without competing too much.
What the Somali Fiscal Eats and How It Lives
Like other shrikes, the Somali fiscal is a skilled hunter. It likes to sit on a high spot where it can see everything around. When it spots something tasty, it quickly swoops down to catch its prey.
These birds mostly eat large insects. Some of their favorite meals include grasshoppers, praying mantises, and beetles. Sometimes, they will even stick their prey onto thorns. This creates a "larder," which is like a pantry, so they can eat it later. Small birds have also been found stored in these larders.
Somali Fiscal Reproduction and Nesting
During the time when they have babies, Somali fiscals become very protective. They will defend the area around their nest. They are even brave enough to attack other birds that come too close, even large ones like ravens.
Somali fiscals usually have their babies during the rainy season. They build their nests in a bush, usually about 1 to 1.5 meters (3 to 5 feet) off the ground. A female Somali fiscal typically lays four eggs, but sometimes she might lay three. Scientists are still learning about how long it takes for the eggs to hatch and for the young birds to be ready to fly.
Is the Somali Fiscal Endangered?
The Somali fiscal lives across a large area and is quite common in many places. The number of these birds seems to be staying steady, not going down. Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the Somali fiscal as a species of "least concern." This means they are not currently worried about this bird becoming endangered.
