South Africa Birds - Bokmakierie Shrike {Telophorus zeylonus} An African Shrike, Bokmakierie is endemic to South Africa and ..

The Bokmakierie is a brilliant yellow, green and grey shrike. The bill is shortish, strong, with a sharp hook at the end of the upper mandible . The legs and feet are blue/grey. The Bokmakierie has brilliant yellow underparts with a broad black collar separating the throat from the breast. It has a grey head and thin yellow eyebrow. The back and wings are olive green. The name comes from its melodious call notes, often uttered in duet, from the top of a bush or tree.

Name: Telophorus zeylonus

Habitat: Open habitats, including highveld koppies, karoo, fynbos and semi-desert scrub. Also found in parks and gardens in towns and cities, usually in pairs.

Distribution: Endemic to South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Diet: Insects, small lizards, snakes, birds, frogs.

Reproduction: The nest is a bulky bowl of twigs, stems and roots. It placed in a dense hedge, bush or fork of leafy tree.