Bokmakierie Telophorus zeylonus
Tankwa Karoo, South Africa. September 2006.

The wonderful Bokmakierie Telophorus zeylonus is an endemic bushshrike of southern Africa, found mainly in South Africa and Namibia, with an isolated population (the dark and rare form restrictus) in the mountains of eastern Zimbabwe and western Mozambique. It is a species of open habitats, including karoo scrub, fynbos and parks and gardens in urban areas where it can become surprisingly approachable. Sexes are similar, but juveniles are a dull grey-green below, and lack the black gorget.

The Bokmakierie is named for its loud and melodic calls, which are incredibly varied. Pairs frequently duet, their songs bouncing back and forth in the acoustic equivalent of a lightshow. It’s scientific name apparently arose because Linnaeus (aka Carl Linné) mistakenly thought that the specimen he recieved had come from Ceylon [Sri Lanka] not South Africa (ref. “Shrikes of Southern Africa”, Harris & Arnott).