Eurocephalus
| Eurocephalus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Southern white-crowned shrike | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Laniidae |
| Genus: | Eurocephalus A. Smith, 1836 |
| Species | |
| |
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Eurocephalus is a small genus of passerine birds in the shrike family. Just two species are placed in this genus.
- Northern white-crowned shrike or white-rumped shrike, Eurocephalus ruppelli
- Southern white-crowned shrike or white-crowned shrike, Eurocephalus anguitimens
These are large brown and white shrikes found in sub-Saharan Africa. They are gregarious species, unlike the Lanius shrikes, and have a parrot-like flight.
Eurocephalus shrikes are birds of savanna and open woodland habitats, typically seen perched upright on a prominent thornbush perch. These species primarily take large insects, but will occasionally eat fruit which has fallen to the ground.
The male and female are similar in plumage in both species but are distinguishable from immature birds.
References
- Tony Harris and Kim Franklin, Shrikes and Bush-Shrikes ISBN 0-7136-3861-3
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