Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Common Fiscal (Juvenile)

Sitting on the patio one evening last week, we noticed a bird on the paving. It wasn't at all concerned about Chappie, the cat lying nearby. As I zoomed in with my camera, I realized it was a young bird: a Juvenile Common Fiscal. 
The first photo was slightly blurred...
...next minute the bird flew off...
...and sat on the garden wall
...affording me many good shots! 


The Common Fiscal is a very common resident, generally sedentary. I've posted several photos of the adult but this is the first time here in Marquard that I'm able to show the juvenile. The adult has black underparts with a distinctive V on the back. 

Note that the juvenile is duller and browner . with finely barred blackish above and below. The bird above is almost adult as its bars are becoming indistinct already. 

Its food is mainly insects and small vertebrates including birds, reptiles and rodents. Occasionally it will eat seeds and food scraps. 

When I was young this bird we knew this bird as "jackie hangman" or the Butcher bird!  It often hangs its [live] prey on barbed wire fences or thorns of trees and comes back to its pantry when hungry. 
Common Fiscal (adult) male. This photo was taken in May - probably the juvenile here is his offspring as the Common Fiscal normally habituates a 100m square of territory

I'm linking my post to Wild Bird Wednesday here

Happy Wednesday to you all! 



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9 comments:

  1. Deb02 December, 2015 03:33

    Very interesting. The adult has a hawk-like face.

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  2. TexWisGirl02 December, 2015 04:32

    they're very cute!

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  3. Margaret Birding For Pleasure02 December, 2015 09:42

    A lovely bird Jo Lovely to see the young one

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  4. diane b02 December, 2015 10:46

    We have a bird called the Butcher Bird which is similar but it has a black apron on. I like the young ones chest pattern.

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  5. eileeninmd02 December, 2015 13:33

    Hello Jo, awesome shots of your Fiscal Bird. It sounds very much like the Shrike that is seen here. Happy Wednesday, enjoy your day!

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  6. MadSnapper02 December, 2015 17:39

    the liittle hanging bird is cute.. even if he does have a weird pantry... the juvenile is faster than the speed of light in that one pic.. he created quite the blur..

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  7. Gaelyn03 December, 2015 03:12

    Very nice sighting, especially when it decided to pose.

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  8. Stewart M03 December, 2015 13:26

    It may be very common where you are from, but I'd still love to see one.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  9. Rohrerbot04 December, 2015 21:48

    I love it when they pose. That's also a fun name to say....Common Fiscal......interesting. Reminds me of our Loggerhead Shrikes here in the US.

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Thank you for visiting my blog and taking the time to leave a comment. I appreciate your feedback. Jo