THE ECOLOGY OF THE FISCAL SHRIKE IN GHANA, AND A COMPARISON WITH STUDIES FROM SOUTHERN AFRICA

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The fiscal shrike L. collaris was studied in southern Ghana in order to compare its ecology with that in southern Africa. The bird was found mainly in the damper coastal areas and usually in habitats created by man. Feeding behavior is described. Food consisted mainly of a wide variety of insects. Territories were small at around 0.6 ha. Most nests were built 1.8-2.4 m from the ground and eggs were laid from Dec.-Oct. Moult appeared to take place in Sept.-Nov. when breeding activity was low. The normal and maximum clutch was 3 eggs. At most, 10-17% of clutches produced fledged young. Most losses were probably caused by predators. Two successful broods/pair were reared annually. Post-fledging survival of the young was high and they remained on the parental territory for 5-7 mo. Contrasts between the breeding biology in Ghana and southern Africa may be related to differences in environmental seasonality and perhaps in the severity of nest losses.