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PLATE 74: SHRIKES II
Bay-backed Shrike Lanius vittatus pm
L: 18. Plump, long-tailed and large-headed shrike; adult has broad black forehead-band reaching
forecrown, greyish rump, whitish upper tail-coverts, white sides to tail and large white mirror
at base of primaries, forming conspicuous bar in flight (larger Long-tailed Shrike has graduated
tail with buff outer feathers, narrow black forehead-band, bright orange-buff rump and upper
tail-coverts, and minute wing-mirror); female duller than male. Juvenile has rufous tail and faint
wing-mirror, told from young Isabelline and Red-tailed Shrikes by rufous-edged greater coverts
and grey lower rump. First-winter birds superficially like adult but have wavy barring on flanks
and upperparts, and the black forehead-band may be absent. Voice Calls grating; song quiet and
pleasant, imitating other species. Habitat Open, often rocky country with scattered trees and
scrub. Note Rare passage migrant Oman (has bred); vagrant Qatar, UAE (has bred).Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor pm
L: 20. Resembles Southern Grey Shrike but smaller with stouter bill, proportionately longer
wings with long primary projection and shorter, less graduated tail; broader white wing panel
confined to primaries. Adult shows extensive black forehead without white supercilium, bluish-
grey upperparts lacking white on shoulders (sometimes faintly), and pinkish-white underparts.
Juvenile/first-winter lack black forehead, have paler bill, brown-grey upperparts, finely barred
darker, and paler tips to wing-coverts and flight feathers; underparts creamy-white, sometimes
faintly barred. Voice Chattering, varied whistles, trills and mimicry. Habitat Open cultivated country
with scattered trees and bushes. Note Passage hatched.Steppe Grey Shrike Lanius pallidirostris PM, WV
L: 25. Much as Southern Grey Shrike with very pale grey upperparts, white underparts usually
blushed pinkish-buff on breast and flanks, pale (not black) lores, broad white wing-bar not
extending onto secondaries; in winter, bill horn-coloured or grey, tipped dark (but all black in
summer). Voice Demonstrative raucous screeches, mechanical throaty whirrs and clicks strung
together. Habitat Steppe and semi-desert scrub. In winter sparsely vegetated habitats, mostly
sand desert and semi-desert scrub, acacia savanna. Note Passage and winter hatched.Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis RB
L: 25. Resembles Steppe Grey Shrike closely, but adult lacks white on secondaries. Juvenile
pale-billed, without black over base of bill, unbarred above (unlike juvenile Lesser Grey); told from
wintering adult Steppe Grey by ochre-buff on breast and wing-bars. Several subspecies occur in
region; aucheri (resident Oman, UAE) is dark grey above with grey wash on flanks, dark lores, broad
black line over bill and relatively small amount of white in wing. Voice Song is a mixture of quiet,
melodious ramblings, raucous notes and mimicry. Calls includes harsh sheck sheck, often extended
into chatter. Habitat Open wooded and scrubby areas, rarely such sparse habitats preferred by
Steppe Grey. Note Winter hatched.Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach pm
L: 24. Size of Southern Grey Shrike, but graduated tail with buff (not white) outer feathers, and
rump and upper tail-coverts bright orange-buff. Subspecies erythronotus depicted. White mirror at
base of primaries small and inconspicuous (sometimes absent). First-winter told from smaller Bay-
backed Shrike by rufous-buff rump and uppertail-coverts; lacks chestnut on back of latter. Voice
Usually silent. Habitat Open scrubland and cultivated regions. Note Rare passage migrant and
winter visitor to Oman; vagrant Kuwait, UAE.