Crimson-breasted Shrike / Boubou

Afrikaans name: Rooiborslaksman

Photo © Steven Herbert

Laniarius atrococcineus

The Crimson-breasted Shrike, also known as the Crimson-breasted Boubou, has to be one of the most attractive birds in South Africa. Both sexes have a beautiful black, white and red plumage.

They are found in drier areas, but not deserts, from South Africa to Zambia and Angola.

Crimson-breasted Shrikes hunt for insects in bushes and trees. They may occasionally eat fruit or insects off the ground.

Both sexes work on making the nest which is normally sited near the trunk of a tree. Either 2 or 3 eggs are laid during spring or summer. The male and female share the incubating and feeding duties.

Interestingly the juveniles roost with their parents during their first year.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	711	Laniarius atrococcineus
2nd	711	Laniarius atro-coccineus
3rd	711	Laniarius atro-coccineus
4th	711	Laniarius atrococcineus
5th	739	Laniarius atrococcineus
6th	739	Laniarius atrococcineus
7th	551	Laniarius atrococcineus

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	711	Crimson-breasted Shrike
2nd	711	Crimson-breasted Shrike
3rd	711	Crimson-breasted Shrike
4th	711	Crimson-breasted Shrike
5th	739	Crimsonbreasted Shrike
6th	739	Crimsonbreasted Boubou
7th	551	Crimson-breasted Shrike

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	711	Rooibors-kokkewiet
2nd	711	Rooibors-fiskaal
3rd	711	Rooibors-fiskaal
4th	711	Rooibors-fiskaal
5th	739	Rooiborslaksman
6th	739	Rooiborslaksman
7th	551	Rooiborslaksman

References and further reading

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 300

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 172

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 41

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 190

Shrikes of Southern Africa - Author: Tony Harris and Graeme Arnott - Published: 0 - Page: 146

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 77

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 358

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 394

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 646

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 648

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 504

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 494

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 382

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 374

Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Published: 1990 - Page: 3

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 214

Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 95

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 374

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 412

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 72

Ian Sinclair s Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 278

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 190

Everyone s Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 67

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 232

Birds of Africa south of the Sahara - Author: Ian Sinclair and Peter Ryan - Published: 2003 - Page: 586

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 46

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 46

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 267

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds