Isabelline Shrike
Lanius isabellinus
Small pale sandy-colored shrike. Male is gray-brown above with a black mask and unmarked pale underparts that contrast with a bright cinnamon tail. Female is similar, but with a paler mask, grayer upperparts, and faint barring on the sides. Both sexes have pale underparts. Red-tailed Shrike looks similar, but male Red-tailed Shrikes have a contrasting warm brownish crown and females average whiter on the underparts. Female Red-backed Shrikes also have a warmer brown back and more prominent scaling patterns on a white breast and belly than Isabelline Shrikes. Typically found in dry brushy areas. Song composed of various whistles, warbles, and mimicry; calls are harsh and sometimes nasal.
Identification
The plumage is isabelline, the sandy colour which gives rise to its name. It has a red tail. Young birds can be distinguished from young red-backed shrikes by the much sparser vermiculations on the underparts.
Taxonomy
Genus: Lanius; Family: Laniidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Lanius isabellinus
- Authority
- Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1833
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Laniidae
- Genus
- Lanius
Range and habitat
Breeding range: PAL : c. Non-breeding range: s Asia and e AF.
- Breeding range
- PAL : c
- Non-breeding range
- s Asia and e AF
- 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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Mergus merganser
Large duck with a sleek body and thin red bill. Breeding males have a dark green head and mostly white body with peachy blush on underparts. Females and immature males have rusty brown head and gray bodies with a cleanly demarcated white throat. Feeds in rivers, lakes, and large ponds by diving to catch fish. Hardy in winter, often staying as far north as open water permits.
White-shouldered Antbird
Akletos melanoceps
Large, chunky antbird. Male is jet black with a small white shoulder patch (sometimes difficult to see) and blue skin around the eye. Female is a striking rufescent-brown with a black hood and blue skin around the eye. Occurs in pairs in the dense understory of forest in the lowlands of the Amazon basin, east of the Andes. Look for the tail being pumped down and raised slowly up. Listen for the loud, ringing song.
Yellow-necked Spurfowl
Pternistis leucoscepus
A large brown francolin with yellow bare skin on the throat and red bare skin around the eyes. The bill and legs are black. Pale patches in the outer wings are conspicuous in flight. Found in a variety of fairly arid savanna habitats and in adjacent agricultural fields. Usually in pairs or small groups. Easily separated from other francolins by its bare yellow throat. The call is a fading series of rough “kreaaak” notes.
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