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Most of my sightings have been on the H4-2 (Croc Bridge to L/Sabie) Sometimes there would be 4-5 birds in a tree merrily chatting away.

Have seen them in the Duke dam area, as well at Timbavati area

Could you please ID this bird :


and this one also around Tamboti, 25.2.08, alone and medium size (I think of longtail shrike )

many thanks

Magpie Shrike (Long-tailed Shrike)

They were EVERYWHERE in October in the Malelane area. You could stop your car on any of the roads and you would hear groups of them singing all around you, it was beautiful

It looks very much as a longtailed shrike, but although it's not clear on the picture, I saw it and it was totally black, so no white parts on the wings at all!
spotted somewhere near Punda Maria (KNP)

anyone sure about this one??

Your bird in this case in a longtailed or magpie shrike.

Thanx, any idea why he has no white parts on the wings?

Hi Gregor...
Yes I am also confused. If this is a Long -tailed Shrike then I would also need to see some more white bits and pieces. But then maybe it is a juvenile ....anybody else have more to offer ????
I am not the best of birders !!!!

Its the angle the bird is being viewed at........The white would be on his back(Unseen) an on his wings(Unseen) as well as on the sides of the vent(hidden by the stick and wings)

I also thought one would not see the white from the angle that the photo was taken..I was going on the fact that Gregor wrote...


I presumed the bird was seen from another angle and there was no white to be seen. Agreed it looks like a Long-tailed Shrike.

This bird still has me puzzled.

Gregor, sure there was no white????

I still think you should have seen at least some white even from this position. But it is possible that it is just the angle. Maybe melanistic?

The other option I tentatively would put on the table would be the Red-collared Widowbird. Roberts states that in rare occasions the red collar is totally absent. I tried to have a good look at the beak, and it seems to be possible that it could be that of a seed eater rather than that of a shrike. Not sure though?

I had those thoughts as well Imberbe

I must say 4 out of 10 times I see Magpie Shrikes, my first thought is "what is that all black bird with the long tail". Then when a. I hear their call, b. see the rest of the group, c. notice the white from a different angle or d. all of the above - it all becomes clear. It's just a personal experience, but for me it is very common (initially) NOT to see the white on a Magpie Shrike.

This bird is playing that same trick here, so nothing melanistic going on I would say. The shape of the beak, body and tail also all perfectly fit the description of a Magpie Shrike. I have seen all-black RC Widowbirds, but they look like black sparrows with a long tail, not like a black fiscal with a long tail.