Magpie Shrike
Magpie ShrikeMagpie ShrikeMagpie ShrikeMagpie Shrike

Magpie Shrike

Urolestes melanoleucus

20–30% · Possible
overall probability at Ruaha National Park
78 Verified records at Ruaha National Park
June Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The magpie shrike (Urolestes melanoleucus), also known as the African long-tailed shrike, is a species of bird in the family Laniidae. It is the only species placed in the genus Urolestes. It is native to the grasslands of eastern and southeastern Africa, where its natural habitats are dry savannah, moist savannah, and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. It has a very wide range and is common in places, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern". Wikipedia →

20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Magpie Shrike sighting in Ruaha National Park, based on 78 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Ruaha National Park

Northern White-crowned Shrike
LC

Northern White-crowned Shrike

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Eurocephalus ruppelli

30–40% · Possible
Red-backed Shrike
LC

Red-backed Shrike

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lanius collurio

5–10% · With luck
Lesser Grey Shrike
LC

Lesser Grey Shrike

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lanius minor

<5% · Rare
Isabelline Shrike
LC

Isabelline Shrike

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lanius isabellinus

Insufficient data
Ashy Starling
LC

Ashy Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis unicolor

60–70% · Likely
Fork-tailed Drongo
LC

Fork-tailed Drongo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dicrurus adsimilis

60–70% · Likely
Slate-colored Boubou
LC

Slate-colored Boubou

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Laniarius funebris

60–70% · Likely
Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu
LC

Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Uraeginthus bengalus

50–60% · Likely
Green-winged Pytilia
LC

Green-winged Pytilia

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pytilia melba

50–60% · Likely
Common Bulbul
LC

Common Bulbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pycnonotus barbatus

50–60% · Likely
Green-backed Camaroptera
LC

Green-backed Camaroptera

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Camaroptera brachyura

40–50% · Likely
Brown-crowned Tchagra
LC

Brown-crowned Tchagra

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tchagra australis

40–50% · Likely

📅 Monthly Probability

20–30
Jan
20–30
Feb
10–20
Mar
20–30
Apr
20–30
May
30–40
Jun
30–40
Jul
20–30
Aug
30–40
Sep
20–30
Oct
20–30
Nov
20–30
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
60–70%
2 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
40–50%
3 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
40–50%
4 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
40–50%
5 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
30–40%
6 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
20–30%
7 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
20–30%
8 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
20–30%
9 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
10–20%
10 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
11 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
12 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
<5%
13 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
14 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
Insufficient data
15 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
16 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
17 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
18 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
19 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Magpie Shrike in Ruaha National Park?

About 28% of wildlife watchers report a Magpie Shrike sighting in Ruaha National Park, based on 78 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Magpie Shrike in Ruaha National Park?

June has the highest sighting rate for Magpie Shrike in Ruaha National Park in our monthly data.

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