Bay-backed Shrike
Lanius vittatus
Brightly-colored small shrike, reminiscent of Long-tailed Shrike in overall coloration. Black mask, rufous flanks and back, clean white throat, and small size make it distinctive within its range. Prefers open areas, often in dry regions, with scattered vegetation. Often perches up on exposed snags, fenceposts, or telephone lines. Song is a messy jumble of musical warbles, harsh churrs, and sharp twanging notes. Calls include a harsh “jhiir.”
Identification
It is smallish shrike at 17 cm, maroon-brown above with a pale rump and long black tail with white edges. The underparts are white, but with buff flanks.The crown and nape are grey, with a typical shrike black bandit mask through the eye. There is a small white wing patch, and the bill and legs are dark grey.<p>Sexes are similar, but young birds are washed-out versions of the adults.
Taxonomy
Genus: Lanius; Family: Laniidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Lanius vittatus
- Authority
- Valenciennes, 1826
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Laniidae
- Genus
- Lanius
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
Migration pattern: Complete migrants.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Ochre-collared Piculet
Picumnus temminckii
Tiny woodpecker, found mostly in light woodlands and at forest edges. Note the short bill, black tail, and white central bar. Rusty-brown on the neck and cheeks, heavily barred front and an olive-green back. The crown is spotted white; males have a red forehead, black in females. The song is a fast trill.
Zenaida Dove
Zenaida aurita
Local and often rather wary dove of fairly open coastal habitats, such as beach dunes with desert scrub, overgrown fields, town edges. Resembles widespread Mourning Dove of North America, but slightly stockier, with a shorter and squared tail. Feeds on the ground, but most often seen in flight, which is fast and direct, usually rather low over the treetops. Best field mark is the white trailing edge to the inner part of the wing, usually quite distinct in flight.
Singing Quail
Dactylortyx thoracicus
Small, retiring quail of forest understory. Rarely seen, but can be located by listening for noisy rustling in the leaf litter as birds scratch like chickens. Prefers to run away rather than flush. Loud song often reveals its presence, given mainly early and late in the day: first few notes similar to Little Tinamou song, but then breaks into rollicking choruses that can be almost deafening if close by. Male has rusty face and gray body, female colors reversed, with gray face and rusty body.
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