Grey-backed Fiscal

Lanius excubitoroides

Other Names

    Pie-grièche à dos gris   Graumantelwürger   Alcaudón de dorso gris       Fiscal dorsogrigio

World: Africa - found mainly in the E and NE from northern Mozambique, SW Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, southern Sudan and as far W as western Chad.

Kenya: Western Kenya from Baringo and Naivasha across to the Lake Victoria Basin and Mt Elgon.

A large shrike of wooded grassland, gardens and moist acacia scrub. Often found in pairs or small groups these are sociable birds. They tend to gather on stumps, wires and branches where they engage in tail waving, wing fluttering and noisy chatter. Despite favouring moister habitats than the Long-tailed Fiscal (Lanius cabanisi) it is common in the somewhat arid Lake Baringo region, particularly in the area of the lakeshore.