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PLATE 73: SHRIKES I
Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator pm, mb?
L: 18. Perches prominently; rufous-brown crown and nape and large white shoulder-patch on
black upperparts diagnostic. Female duller than male, with more white-buff at base of bill, and
rump only slightly greyer than mantle. Juvenile/first-winter resembles juvenile Red-backed Shrike
but has paler grey-brown upperparts with creamy-white markings on scapulars, wing-coverts,
rump and base of primaries (pale wing-patch noticeable in flight). Voice Song comprises varied
whistles and trills, often mimics; calls schak-schak and grating rattles. Habitat Open bushy country,
parks. Note Passage hatched; rarely winters Arabia and Iran.Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus pm, wv
L: 18. Male with black upperparts and mask, white face, orange wash on flanks (female similar
but duller) and distinctive white shoulder-patch. White base of primaries and outer tail feathers
obvious in flight. Juvenile similar to juvenile Woodchat but with finer bill, longer tail, paler forehead,
colder, greyer ground colour to upperparts and rump concolorous with back. First-winter lacks
orange flanks. Perches mid-level in tree or bush with long tail pumped slowly downwards or
slightly cocked and waved up and down. Sometimes secretive. Voice Harsh, scolding, dry krrrrrr.
Song rather quiet, a tuneless jumble of notes. Habitat Open woodland, cultivation, parks, scrub.
Note Passage hatched; occasional in winter in S Arabia.Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus V
L: 18–19. Dark rufous-brown to rusty olive-brown upperparts; tertials pale-fringed, crown, mantle
and tail concolorous; tail graduated, sometimes faintly barred. Subspecies luscionensis has grey
crown and nape; intergrades with nominate cristatus occur. Breast creamy- to yellowish-buff, throat
white, flanks rufous-buff. Bill usually appears deep, heavy. Immature told from similar immature
Red-backed Shrike by absence of white at base of primaries (rarely small amount present), shorter
primary projection (only 4–5 primary tips showing beyond tertials), tail shape and underparts
colour; bill pale-based with dark tip. Often furtive in cover. Voice Loud, excitable staccato
ratcheting. Habitat Scrub, woodland edge. Note Vagrant Oman, UAE.Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio PM
L: 18. Adult male unmistakable; female and first-autumn birds warm brown above, tail dark brown,
underparts whitish with dense crescentic barring on breast and flanks, also above in immatures.
Barring, colour of rump, tail and upperparts separates from Isabelline and Red-tailed Shrikes.
Immature similar to Woodchat Shrike (which see). Primary projection long, thus eliminating Brown
Shrike. Voice Song quiet and musical warbling with mimicry. Call a short shack, alarm hoarse, hard
keck-keck-keck. Habitat Scrub, thickets, lightly wooded areas. Note Passage hatched.Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus PM, WV
L: 16–18. Subspecies isabellinus occurs. Pale sandy to sandy-grey above, whitish to creamy- or
orange-buff below, with burnt orange flanks. Rump and tail foxy- to orange-red, or dull brown in
some females, square-ended or only slightly rounded. Immature has upperparts except mantle
finely barred (crescents on upperparts of Red-backed Shrike have dark and pale fringes adjacent);
faintly barred on flanks. In female, white at base of primaries often reduced, rarely absent. Adult from
Red-tailed Shrike by paler upperparts, creamy to warm orange-buff supercilium (never white),
pale lores and creamier breast and belly. Voice Short, hard dry staccato ratcheting. Habitat Open
wooded or scrubby areas, cultivations, parks. Note Passage and winter hatched [Alt: Daurian Shrike]Red-tailed Shrike Lanius phoenicuroides PM, mb?
L: 16–18. Sandy grey-brown to rich warm earth-brown above, some almost as rich as Brown Shrike,
with contrasting foxy-red rump and tail, latter often ruddier-chestnut than Isabelline Shrike. Spring
male from Isabelline by rufous crown, white supercilium, darker upperparts and dark lores, also
whiter underparts with flanks rusty; female and immature similarly darker above but probably not
all immatures safely distinguishable. Intergrades occur; form karelini sandy or sandy-grey above
with pale rufous to concolorous sandy-grey crown. From similar Brown Shrike by tail shape, slightly
longer primary projection (six primaries exposed beyond tertials, but beware in winter moult)
and white at base of primaries (sometimes not visible at rest). Voice Calls as Isabelline Shrike.
Habitat As Isabelline Shrike. Note Passage hatched; rare or absent in winter. [Alt: Turkestan Shrike]