Magpie shrike
| Magpie shrike | |
|---|---|
| C. m. expressa at Sabi Sand, and calls of the nominate subspecies in Gauteng | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Laniidae |
| Genus: | Urolestes Cabanis, 1851 |
| Species: | U. melanoleucus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Urolestes melanoleucus (Jardine, 1831)
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
The magpie shrike (Urolestes melanoleucus), also known as the African long-tailed shrike, is a species of bird in the family Laniidae. It is the only species placed in the genus Urolestes. It is native to the grasslands of eastern and southeastern Africa, where its natural habitats are dry savannah, moist savannah, and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. It has a very wide range and is common in places, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".