Red-tailed Shrike
Lanius phoenicuroides
Small, plain shrike of dry, open areas with low shrubby cover. Gray-backed and white-bellied, with a black mask and a rusty tail and crown. Very similar to the closely related Isabelline Shrike, but look out for Red-tailed’s stronger white brow, reddish crown instead of a gray one, and cleaner underparts. Perches on exposed bushtops, posts, and wires, from which it primarily hunts for insects and arachnids. Like other closely related small shrikes, incorporates mimicry into songs and gives harsh, rasping calls.
Identification
The plumage is a sandy colour. It has a red tail.
Taxonomy
Genus: Lanius; Family: Laniidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Lanius phoenicuroides
- Authority
- (Schalow, 1875)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Laniidae
- Genus
- Lanius
Range and habitat
The red-tailed shrike breeds in south Siberia and Central Asia.
- Breeding range
- PAL : c Asia to Pakistan
- Non-breeding range
- sw Asia and e Africa
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
Migration pattern: Complete migrants.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Slender, long-tailed bird more often heard than seen. White below and brown above, with black bill. Separated from Yellow-billed Cuckoo by bill color, uniformly brown outer wings (not rufous) and smaller white spots on underside of tail. Feeds mainly on caterpillars and other insects. Found mostly in deciduous woodlands, especially areas with thick secondary growth. Often sits motionless for long periods of time and is difficult to spot. Listen for its song, a repeated series of soft "cu-cu-cu" notes.
Stripe-necked Tody-Tyrant
Hemitriccus striaticollis
A small, relatively drab flycatcher found locally across its wide range. Primarily yellowish in plumage, brightest on the belly. Whiter throat has strong grayish stripes blending into blurrier streaks on the chest. Generally found in scrubby semi-humid habitats, and often likes viney tangles. Where overlaps with the similar Johannes’s Tody-Tyrant, note the stronger throat markings and generally brighter overall coloration.
Hoatzin
Opisthocomus hoazin
Large, dumpy bird found around lake edges and slow-moving streams. Head looks too small for its large brown body. Its orange mohawk, blue facial skin, and stubby bill make this bird extremely distinctive. Usually found in groups or pairs. Moves clumsily around waterside vegetation, making loud huffing noises.
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