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Long-tailed Shrike
Latin Name:
Lanius schach
Category:
Size:
25cm
Description:
Sexes alike. Pale grey from crown to middle of back; bright rufous from then on to the rump; black forehead, band through eye; white ‘mirror’ in black wings; whitish underbody, tinged pale rufous on lower breast and flanks. Mostly solitary; boldly defends feeding territory; keeps lookout from conspicuous perch; pounces onto ground on sighting prey; said to store surplus in ‘larder’, impaling prey on thorns; nicknamed Butcher-bird.
Habitat:
open country, cultivation, edges of forest, vicinity of habitation, gardens; prefers neighbourhood of water.
Food:
insects, lizards, small rodents, birds.
Distribution:
three races; undergo considerable seasonal movement; subcontinent, from about 2,700m in the Himalaya. The blackheaded subspecies L. s. tricolor, has a black head and small white patch on wings; breeds in the Himalaya east of Uttarakhand.
Call:
Call Description:
noisy; harsh mix of scolding notes, shrieks and yelps; excellent mimic; rather musical song of breeding male.
IUCN:
National Status:
At IITK:
