This typical shrike has a large head, stout hook-tipped bill and a longish black and rufous tail. With a broad black band across the eyes, its crown, nape, sides, hind-neck and upper back are grey, diffusing to rufous or cinnamon on the rest of the upper-parts. The chin, throat and upper- breast are white while the rest of the under-parts are rufous. Its wings are blackish with a white wing-spot conspicuous in flight. This bird inhabits deciduous openly wooded country - cultivation, orchards and groves. As a family, these birds are ‘pugnacious, bold and rapacious’. Often found singly or in widely separated pairs, this bird has its own feeding territory which it guards fiercely against others of its kind. It often grabs food from other birds, even bigger than itself, by bouncing on them bodily while on the ground, knocking them down and taking away their catch. It kills young sparrows, mice, lizards, frogs etc. by pouncing and smothering them on the ground and striking repeatedly on the head with its powerftil bill. Often only the brain eaten, the body is impaled on a thorn along with other surplus food. Turning and twisting in the air, this bird sometimes catches insects on the wing (moths, winged termites, etc.). Insects like crickets, locusts, grasshoppers, caterpillars, ants and beetles are also eaten. This bird’s normal notes are harsh complaining cries as if in distress (like a squealing frog caught by a snake). In the breeding season it has a beautiftd, subdued musical song which can go on unbroken for 15 minutes or more at a stretch. It is a versatile mimic of other birds’ calls like those of Black Kite, Mynas,Sparrow, Swallow, Swift, Parakeet, Babblers and many more, and even squirrels and new-bom puppies. Breeding is usually in April-May and both parents take part in the entire process.
Lanius schach Linnaeus, 1758
🗒 Synonyms
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🗒 Common Names
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📚 Overview
Summary
Bird group
Shrikes
No Data
📚 Nomenclature and Classification
📚 Natural History
No Data
📚 Habitat and Distribution
General Habitat
Habitat
Terrestrial
Freshwater
Description
Global Distribution
Native: Afghanistan; Bangladesh; Bhutan; Cambodia; China; India; Indonesia; Kazakhstan; Kyrgyzstan; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Malaysia; Myanmar; Nepal; Oman; Pakistan; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Singapore; Sri Lanka; Taiwan, Province of China; Tajikistan; Thailand; Timor-Leste; Turkmenistan; Viet Nam Vagrant: Israel; Japan; Maldives; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom
No Data
📚 Occurrence
No Data
📚 Demography and Conservation
Trends
Unknown
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List Category
Least Concern
Red List Category & Criteria: Least Concern ver 3.1
No Data
📚 Uses and Management
📚 Information Listing
References
- Praveen J., Jayapal, R., & Pittie, A., 2016. Checklist of the birds of India (v1.1). Website: http://www.indianbirds.in/india/ [Date of publication: 03 October, 2016].
- Praveen J., Jayapal, R., & Pittie, A., 2018. Checklist of the birds of India (v2.0). Website: http://www.indianbirds.in/india/ [Date of publication: 31 January, 2018].
- Yosef, R., International Shrike Working Group & de Juana, E. (2018). Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/60477 on 9 May 2018).
- BirdLife International. 2016. Lanius schach. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22705029A93997036. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22705029A93997036.en. Downloaded on 09 May 2018.
Information Listing > References
- Praveen J., Jayapal, R., & Pittie, A., 2016. Checklist of the birds of India (v1.1). Website: http://www.indianbirds.in/india/ [Date of publication: 03 October, 2016].
- Praveen J., Jayapal, R., & Pittie, A., 2018. Checklist of the birds of India (v2.0). Website: http://www.indianbirds.in/india/ [Date of publication: 31 January, 2018].
- Yosef, R., International Shrike Working Group & de Juana, E. (2018). Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/60477 on 9 May 2018).
- BirdLife International. 2016. Lanius schach. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22705029A93997036. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22705029A93997036.en. Downloaded on 09 May 2018.
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ZarreenNo Data
🐾 Taxonomy
Root | Root |
Kingdom | Animalia |
Phylum | Chordata |
Class | Aves |
Order | Passeriformes |
Family | Laniidae |
Genus | Lanius |
Species | Lanius schach Linnaeus 1758 |
📊 Temporal Distribution
📷 Related Observations
👥 Groups