The Yellow-billed shrike is found all over Gambia and daily in and around Footsteps. Its a bird that likes you to know its around and has a loud call.
Bird information.
Where can we see a Yellow-billed shrike?
It is found at Footsteps and all over The Gambia and mainland Africa, the two birds pictured above were taken at the newly formed wetlands a short walk from Footsteps.
What does a Yellow-billed shrike look like?
The yellow-billed shrike is 32 cm from head to tail with a long, graduating tail and short wings. The adult has mottled brown upper parts and streaked buff under parts. It has a brown eye mask and a rufous wing patch, and the bill is yellow. Sexes are largely similar, but females have maroon patches on the flanks, while males have rufous parches; these patches are only visible when the bird is in flight, displaying, engaging in territorial disputes, or preening. Immature birds show buff fringes to the wing feathers. The legs and feet are black, and the beak is yellow, even in juveniles. Source Wikipedia
What does it feed on?
They feed primarily n insects but will also eat small lizards, frogs and an occasional mouse too!
Want to know an interesting Factoid?
They usually hang out in groups and for some reason which seems unknown, it likes to sit lined up on telephone wires.
How does it sound?
It has a loud call which sounds like swee-swee and dreee-too.