BOKMAKIERIE
Telophorus zeylonus
iNkovu (Zulu) Bokmakierie (Afrikaans)
HABITAT
Mainly confined to the dryer upland areas of KwaZulu-Natal where it lives in a variety of
habitats such as bushy rocky hillsides, riverine scrub, cultivated and urban areas.
TYPE
A large green and yellow shrike with a very well known call that gives it its name. The top
of the head is grey, the back is bright green, eyebrow and underparts bright yellow. It has a black
collar and the tail is black tipped with yellow. The bill is black , the eyes brown or browny grey
and the legs and feet blue grey.
FOOD
It sticks to thick bush where it feeds on insects, small lizards and snakes, frogs and small
birds.
BREEDING
It nests from September to March in KwaZulu-Natal, building a nest in the shape of a bulky
bowl made of twigs sticks and other plant material in dense bush about 2 meters above the ground.
Usually three eggs which are brightgreenish blue spotted with red brown.
STATUS
It is a common resident where it occurs.
|
