Bokmakierie

Overview

The Telophorus zeylonus, commonly known as the bokmakierie, is a species of bushshrike endemic to southern Africa. It is a passerine bird closely related to true shrikes and is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• 22–23 cm in length with olive-green upperparts and bright yellow underparts.
• A prominent bright yellow tip on the black tail and a grey head featuring a yellow supercilium.
• A broad black collar separates the throat from the breast, extending up the neck sides to the bill.
• Strong bill with a hooked upper mandible and blue-grey legs; juveniles appear dull grey-green without the black gorget.

Habitat

This bird inhabits open environments such as karoo scrub, fynbos, and urban parks or gardens. Its range covers mainly South Africa and Namibia, with an isolated population found in the mountains of eastern Zimbabwe and western Mozambique.

Diet

The species consumes a typical shrike diet consisting of insects, small lizards, snakes, small birds, and frogs. It is described as shy and skulking, contrasting with the open perching behaviour of true shrikes.

Did you know?

The bird's name originates from its distinctive call, 'bok-bok-mak-kik', which was transliterated by Dutch settlers as 'bokmakierie' and previously called 'bacbakiri' by Levaillant based on local naming.