Fiscal Shrike Vs Fiscal Flycatcher

Since I was blogging about Fiscal Shrikes this morning, I thought i would add a post about another common visitor to the garden I spotted this afternoon, the almost identical Fiscal Flycatcher. These birds can be very difficult to tel apart from a distance, but if you look closely the shrike (on the left) is sligtly more robust and has a pronounced hook in its bill. The white chevrons on its back are also up towards the shoulders. In contrast the fly catcher has a straight bill and chevrons that a lower down on its wings. I especially love the way the fly catchers perch on my fence and catch flying ants in mid air. As my photography skills improve i will hopefully capture them in action!