Souza's shrike facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Souza's shrike |
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Lanius
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| Species: |
souzae
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The Souza's shrike (Lanius souzae) is a type of passerine bird, also known as a perching bird. It belongs to the shrike family (Laniidae). These birds mostly stay in one place and live in miombo woodlands in south-central Africa. It got its name from a Portuguese zoologist, José Augusto de Sousa.
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About the Souza's Shrike
The Souza's shrike was first officially described in 1878. This was done by a Portuguese zoologist named José Vicente Barbosa du Bocage. The first place it was found was Caconda in Angola.
Scientists have found that the Souza's shrike is most closely related to the Southern fiscal shrike. Both of these birds belong to the genus Lanius. The shrike family, Laniidae, is part of a larger group of birds called Passeriformes, which includes all perching birds.
Different Types of Souza's Shrike
There are three recognized types, or subspecies, of Souza's shrike:
- Lanius souzae souzae: Found from southeastern Gabon to parts of Angola, Congo, and Zambia.
- Lanius souzae burigi: Lives in northwestern Tanzania, eastern Zambia, Rwanda, and Burundi.
- Lanius souzae tacitus: Found in southeastern Angola, northern Namibia, southern Zambia, Malawi, and western Mozambique.
What's in a Name?
The name of the genus, Lanius, comes from a Latin word meaning "butcher." Some shrikes are even called "butcherbirds." This is because they have a special way of storing their food. They might stick their prey on thorns or sharp branches!
The specific name, souzae, honors José Augusto de Sousa. He was a Portuguese zoologist who studied many African birds. He was the director of ornithology at the National Museum of Natural History and Science, Lisbon.
What Does It Look Like?
The Souza's shrike is a small bird, about 17 cm (6.7 in) long. It has a light grey back that turns brownish lower down. Its wings are reddish-brown, and its tail is long and thin. The tail has brown inner feathers and white outer feathers. Both the tail and wings have fine stripes.
You can see a white stripe above its black "mask" on its face. It also has clear white feathers on its shoulders, which look like a "V" shape. Its belly is mostly dark, but its throat is white.
Male and female shrikes look quite similar. Females are a bit duller in color and have a brownish-orange patch on their sides. Young shrikes are even duller and more plain. They have brown heads, a brown face mask, and fine black stripes on most of their body. Their chin and throat are whitish. The bird's beak and legs are black, and its eyes are brown.
Small Differences Between Subspecies
The description above is for the most common type, L. s. souzae.
- L. s. burigi has more brownish upperparts and darker wings and tail. It has fewer stripes on its wings. The brownish-orange patch on the female's side is easier to see.
- L.s. tacitus has a dull olive-brown back and lighter wings. The brownish-orange patch on the female's side is duller than in L.s. souzae.
Where Do They Live?
Souza's shrike lives in central Africa. You can find them from central Congo all the way east to western and southern Tanzania. They are common in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They are rare in Rwanda and only found in specific areas. In Tanzania, they are uncommon and found in certain spots. They are widespread in Angola, Zambia, northern Malawi, and northern Mozambique. They have also been seen rarely in Gabon, northern Namibia, and northern Botswana. They might even be in northern Zimbabwe.
These birds live in tropical savanna areas. This is the region between the rainforests and the dry deserts of southern Africa. Unlike some other shrikes, the Souza's shrike prefers woodlands where the trees are not too dense. Sometimes, you might see them at the edges of gardens with some trees. In some places, they stick to lightly wooded areas with short grass.
How They Move Around
Souza's shrikes usually stay in one place. However, they might move short distances during the dry season. Birds seen in Namibia and Botswana likely moved there from areas further north. In Malawi, they are not found in some areas during the non-breeding season.
Life and Habits
Souza's shrike is a predator that likes to wait and ambush its prey. It usually perches under the tree canopy, about 2 to 4 meters (6 to 13 feet) above the ground. When it spots prey, it dives down, just like other shrikes. However, it has not been seen creating "larders" by sticking prey on thorns.
We don't know a lot about what they eat, but they have been seen eating beetles, spiders, and sometimes small birds.
Reproduction and Nesting
When Souza's shrikes breed, it usually happens during the rainy season. Their nest is a neat, deep cup with thick walls. It's made from twigs and plant stems. The outside of the nest is covered with plant fluff and spiderwebs. The inside is lined with soft grass and vine tendrils, sometimes with lichen.
The nest is hard to spot because it's hidden in plants. It's usually placed in a fork of a small tree or a tall bush, about 3 to 6 meters (10 to 20 feet) high. A female shrike usually lays 2 or 3 eggs, but sometimes 4. The female probably does all the incubating (keeping the eggs warm).
