WillemSvdMerwe on DeviantArthttps://www.deviantart.com/willemsvdmerwe/art/Bokmakierie-722068817WillemSvdMerwe

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Bokmakierie

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Description

The Bokmakierie, Telophorus zeylonus, is an unusual member of the Bush Shrike family, which only occurs in Southern Africa.  Unlike other species which live in dense bush, woodlands or forest, this one often occurs in open habitats, even in grassland and desert, provided there are some shrubs nearby.  It is bold and confiding, often singing out in the open, unlike the mainly skulking other members of the family.  Typical of the family, though, it its varied calls.  Males and females sing a kind of duet together, the male calling and the female answering.  They have a variety of different kinds of calls, 'bok-makierie' being an imaginative interpretation of how some of those sound like.  Acrylic painting.
Image size
512x730px 293.23 KB
Make
Canon
Model
CanoScan 4400F
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Comments46
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namu-the-orca's avatar
I've fancied these birds ever since I learned of their existence! I didn't know they were related to Bush Shrikes, their colour always reminded me of the longclaws. Their colours and markings are just gorgeous (just like the other Bush Shrikes, which I'm happily surprised by, knowing only the drab true Shrikes of Europe) and you depicted this one beautifully! The yellow is so vibrant and the black so deep. Really makes him stand out. And I'm impressed by the fine feather textures on the flank and shoulders! Interesting they sing a duet. Does the female look identical to the male?