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To the Beauty of Birds

The Common Fiscal or Southern Fiscal (Lanius collaris) is a member of the shrike family found through most of Sub-Saharan Africa. It is also sometimes named jackie hangman or butcher bird due to its habit of impaling its prey on acacia thorns to store the food for later consumption. It was previously lumped together with the northern fiscal (Lanius humeralis) and together they were known as the common fiscal.

This is a fairly distinctive 21–23 cm long passerine with white under parts and black upperparts extending from the top of the head down to the tail. The bird has a characteristic white 'V' on the back and a relatively long black tail with white outer feathers and white tips on the other feathers. The bill, eyes and legs are black. Adult male and female Common Fiscals are quite similar except for the rufous lower flank of the female.

Common Fiscal

Fiscal Common 8320

Fiscal Common 8088

Fiscal Common 6183

Fiscal Common 6354

Fiscal Common 6359