Brown Shrike

Lanius cristatus

Family: Shrikes · Status: Common migrant · Size: 19–20.5 cm · Conservation: Least Concern

Range

Breeds across Siberia, northeastern China, northern Japan, and Korea; winters to the Indian Subcontinent, southern China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia.

Identification

Subspecies confusus is brown overall with chestnut-wash flanks, dark eyestripe, and thin white supercilium. L. c. lucionensis has a slate-grey supercilium and crown. L. c. superciliosus has a brownish-red nape and mantle, thicker white supercilium, and strongly contrasting black eyestripe. L. c. cristatus is very similar to confusus.

Habitat

Open and non-forest habitats such as parks and grasslands.

Behaviour

Feeds on insects, reptiles, small birds, and rodents; prefers more open habitats than Tiger Shrike.