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.
National Status: