Emin's shrike is a species of passerine bird in the family Laniidae, the shrikes. This species has a scattered distribution across Africa from the Ivory Coast east to South Sudan and Uganda.
Region
West and East Tropical Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs in a discontinuous belt from Ivory Coast and Ghana through Nigeria and Cameroon to Central African Republic, South Sudan, and Uganda. Favors open savanna, wooded grassland, and thorn-scrub with scattered trees and bushy edges. Often uses ecotones such as farm margins, fallows, and road or track edges where perches are available. Presence can be local and irregular, with birds occupying suitable patches within the broader range.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Emin's shrike is a little-known African shrike named after the explorer-administrator Emin Pasha. It occupies patchy savanna and scrub across West to East Africa and can be surprisingly elusive despite using exposed perches. Like other shrikes, it sometimes impales prey on thorns or barbed wire to cache food. Its scattered range makes local encounters notable for birders.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with brief glides
Social Behavior
Usually encountered singly or in pairs, perched prominently on shrubs, small trees, or wires while scanning for prey. Pairs defend territories during breeding and construct a cup nest in dense shrubs or thorny trees. Courtship includes perch-sharing and prey presentation. Young are fed by both adults and disperse into nearby scrub after fledging.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a mix of clear whistles, chatters, and harsh notes typical of shrikes, delivered from exposed perches. Calls include sharp scolds and metallic ticks when alarmed.
