White-tailed shrike facts for kids

Quick facts for kids White-tailed shrike
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Platysteiridae
Genus:	Lanioturdus Waterhouse, 1838
Species:	L. torquatus
Binomial name
Lanioturdus torquatus Waterhouse, 1838
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A White-tailed Shrike perched on a branch.

The white-tailed shrike (Lanioturdus torquatus) is a small bird. It belongs to a group of birds called passerines. These birds are often called "perching birds." You might also hear it called the chatshrike or ground batis. This special bird lives only in western Angola and Namibia. It prefers areas with thorny bushes.

This bird looks for insects from the ground up to 25 meters high. It hops around on the ground with its body upright. Its tail is very short and points downwards. It has a small black mark on the tip of its two middle tail feathers. The white-tailed shrike makes loud, clear whistling sounds to mark its territory.

Discovering the White-tailed Shrike

This interesting bird was first found in 1837. It was discovered by James Edward Alexander in the Naukluft Mountains of Namibia. A scientist named Waterhouse officially described it in 1838. He gave it the name Lanioturdus, which means 'shrike-thrush'. This name shows that scientists were not sure if it was more like a shrike or a thrush. The word torquatus means 'collared', referring to its markings. Both male and female white-tailed shrikes look very similar.

Where They Live

The white-tailed shrike is a common bird in its home region. It lives there all year round and also raises its young there. Sometimes, it moves short distances depending on the season. It likes to live in scrub-savanna, which has thorny bushes. It also enjoys areas with mopane trees.

You can often see these birds alone or in pairs. This is especially true during the time they are raising their young. At other times of the year, they might gather in small groups. When they fly, they are not very graceful. They flap their wings quickly and shallowly, much like other birds in the batis family.

Reproduction and Nests

White-tailed shrikes build their nests in thorny acacia trees. Both the male and female birds help to build the nest. Their nests are neat, deep cups. They are made strong with spider webs. These nests are usually placed about 3 meters (about 10 feet) above the ground.

A female white-tailed shrike usually lays 2 to 3 eggs. The eggs are pale green to white. They have a few reddish-brown spots. Only the female bird sits on the eggs to keep them warm. This process is called incubation.