Corvinella
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C. corvina |
Corvinella is a small genus of passerine birds in the shrike family. Just two species are placed in this genus.
- Yellow-billed Shrike, Corvinella corvina
- Magpie Shrike, Corvinella melanoleuca
These are very large shrikes found in sub-Saharan Africa. They are gregarious species, unlike the Lanius shrikes, and they have very long tails.
Corvinella shrikes are birds of open savanna habitats typically seen perched upright on a prominent treetop perch or telephone wires. They sally out for prey, sometimes taken in flight, but mainly from the ground. These species primarily take large insects, but will also take small birds, reptiles and mammals.
The sexes of both species are similar but distinguishable.
[edit] References
- Tony Harris and Kim Franklin, Shrikes and Bush-Shrikes ISBN 0-7136-3861-3
