Brown shrike

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Brown shrike
Lanius cristatus - Surin.jpg
In Thailand
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Laniidae
Genus: Lanius
Species:
L. cristatus
Binomial name
Lanius cristatus
LaniusAsiaMap.svg
Breeding ranges
Synonyms

Otomela cristata(Linnaeus, 1758)

The brown shrike (Lanius cristatus) is a bird in the shrike family that is found mainly in Asia. It is closely related to the red-backed shrike (L. collurio) and isabelline shrike (L. isabellinus). The genus name, Lanius , is derived from the Latin word for "butcher", and some shrikes are also known as "butcher birds" because of their feeding habits. The specific cristatus is Latin for "crested", used in a broader sense than in English. [2] The common English name "shrike" is from Old English scríc, "shriek", referring to the shrill call. [3]

Contents

Like most other shrikes, it has a distinctive black "bandit-mask" through the eye and is found mainly in open scrub habitats, where it perches on the tops of thorny bushes in search of prey. Several populations of this widespread species form distinctive subspecies which breed in temperate Asia and migrate to their winter quarters in tropical Asia. They are sometimes found as vagrants in Europe and North America.

Taxonomy

In 1747 the English naturalist George Edwards included an illustration and a description of the brown shrike in the second volume of his A Natural History of Uncommon Birds. He used the English name "The Crested Red, or Russit Butcher-Bird". Edwards based his hand-coloured etching on a specimen that had been sent from Bengal to the silk-pattern designer Joseph Dandridge in London. [4] When in 1758 the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus updated his Systema Naturae for the tenth edition, he placed the brown shrike with the other shrikes in the genus Lanius . Linnaeus included a brief description, coined the binomial name Lanius cristatus and cited Edwards' work. [5] The specific epithet is Latin meaning "crested" or "plumed". [6]

Four subspecies are recognised: [7]

Description

Immature bird, Kolkata, India Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus)- Immature in Kolkata I IMG 6072.jpg
Immature bird, Kolkata, India

This shrike is mainly brown on the upper parts and the tail is rounded. The black mask can be paler in winter and has a white brow over it. The underside is creamy with rufous flanks and belly. The wings are brown and lack any white "mirror" patches. Females tend to have fine scalloping on the underside and the mask is dark brown and not as well marked as in the male. The distinction is not easy to use in the field but has been tested with breeding birds in Japan where the female can be identified from the presence of a brood patch. [8] The use of multiple measurements allows discrimination of the sex of about 90% of the birds. [9] Subspecies lucionensis has a grey crown shading into the brown upperparts and the rump appears more rufous than the rest of the upper back. [10] The tail is more brownish and not as reddish as in the red-backed shrike. [11] Younger birds of lucionensis have a brown crown and lack the grey on the head. Subspecies superciliosus has a broad white supercilium and a richer reddish crown. The tail is redder and tipped in white. [12] [13]

A number of confusing forms are known from central Asia where the populations of cristatus, isabellinus and collurio overlap. The taxonomy has been in a state of flux and some forms such as phoenicuroides formerly considered as subspecies of L. cristatus have been moved to the species L. isabellinus. [10] [14] Subspecies lucionensis has been recorded interbreeding with superciliosus in Ishikawa, Japan [15] while superciliosus has interbred with Lanius tigrinus in central Japan. [16]

Distribution

Eggs, Collection Museum Wiesbaden Lanius cristatus MWNH 1312.JPG
Eggs, Collection Museum Wiesbaden

The nominate form breeds in northern Asia from Mongolia to Siberia and winters in South Asia, Myanmar and the Malay Peninsula. The race confusus described from the same region is not well marked but is said to have a wider white brow and paler upperparts and is sometimes included within the nominate population. Subspecies superciliosus (sometimes called the Japanese shrike) breeds on the islands of Sakhalin, Kuril and Japan and winters in Hainan, Sumatra, Java, and the Sundas. Subspecies lucionensis, sometimes known as the Philippine shrike (local names: tarat or pakis-kis), [17] [18] [19] breeds in Korea and eastern China wintering mainly in Taiwan and the Philippines but also on the Andaman Islands and in peninsular India. [10] [20] [21] [22] Stuart Baker suggested that the species may breed in the Cachar Hills of Assam but the idea was questioned by Claud Buchanan Ticehurst. [23]

This species is rare in Europe and vagrants have been recorded in the United States and Canada. [24] [25] [26]

Behaviour and ecology

Lanius cristatus lucionensis, the Philippine shrike; note the grey crown and white throat contrasting with the rufescent underside. Kolkata, India Brown Shrike I IMG 7367.jpg
Lanius cristatus lucionensis, the Philippine shrike; note the grey crown and white throat contrasting with the rufescent underside. Kolkata, India

The brown shrike is a migratory species and ringing studies show that they have high fidelity to their wintering sites, often returning to the same locations each winter. [27] [28] [29] They begin establishing wintering territories shortly after arrival and their loud chattering or rattling calls are distinctive. Birds that arrive early and establish territories appear to have an advantage over those that arrive later in the winter areas. [30] [31] The timing of their migration is very regular with their arrival in winter to India in August and September and departure in April. [32] During their winter period, they go through a premigratory moult. [27] Their song in the winter quarters is faint and somewhat resembles the call of the rosy starling and often includes mimicry of other birds. The beak remains closed when singing and only throat pulsations are visible although the bird moves its tail up and down while singing. [11] [33]

The breeding season is late May or June and the breeding habitat includes the taiga, forest to semi-desert where they build a nest in a tree or bush, laying two to six eggs. [34]

They feed mainly on insects, especially Lepidoptera. [35] Like other shrikes, they impale prey on thorns. Small birds and lizards are also sometimes preyed upon. [36] A white-eye ( Zosterops ) has been recorded in its larder. [11] They typically look out for prey from a perch and fly down towards the ground to capture them. [37]

Related Research Articles

Red-backed shrike Species of bird

The red-backed shrike is a carnivorous passerine bird and member of the shrike family Laniidae. Its breeding range stretches from Western Europe east to central Russia. It is migratory and winters in the eastern areas of tropical Africa and southern Africa.

Woodchat shrike Species of bird

The woodchat shrike is a member of the shrike family Laniidae. It can be identified by its red-brown crown and nape. It is mainly insectivorous and favours open wooded areas with scattered trees such as orchards, particularly when there is bare or sandy ground. The woodchat shrike breeds in southern Europe, the Middle East and northwest Africa, and winters in tropical Africa.

Long-tailed shrike Species of bird

The long-tailed shrike or rufous-backed shrike is a member of the bird family Laniidae, the shrikes. They are found widely distributed across Asia and there are variations in plumage across the range. The species ranges across much of Asia, both on the mainland and the eastern archipelagos. The eastern or Himalayan subspecies, L. s. tricolor, is sometimes called the black-headed shrike. Although there are considerable differences in plumage among the subspecies, they all have a long and narrow black tail, have a black mask and forehead, rufous rump and flanks and a small white patch on the shoulder. It is considered to form a superspecies with the grey-backed shrike which breeds on the Tibetan Plateau.

Grey wagtail Species of bird

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Indian peafowl Species of bird

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Black-rumped flameback Species of bird

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Pied bush chat Species of bird

The pied bush chat is a small passerine bird found ranging from West Asia and Central Asia to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. About sixteen subspecies are recognized through its wide range with many island forms. It is a familiar bird of countryside and open scrub or grassland where it is found perched at the top of short thorn trees or other shrubs, looking out for insect prey. They pick up insects mainly from the ground, and were, like other chats, placed in the thrush family Turdidae, but are now considered as Old World flycatchers.

Red-vented bulbul Species of bird

The red-vented bulbul is a member of the bulbul family of passerines. It is a resident breeder across the Indian subcontinent, including Sri Lanka extending east to Burma and parts of Bhutan and Nepal. It has been introduced in many other parts of the world and has established itself including New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga, and Fiji. It has also established itself in parts of Samoa, Australia, USA and Cook Islands. It is included in the list of the world's 100 worst invasive alien species.

Indian robin Species of bird

The Indian robin is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is widespread in the Indian subcontinent and ranges across Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The males of the northern subspecies have brown backs whose extent gradually reduces southwards, with the males of the southern subspecies having all-black backs. They are commonly found in open scrub areas and often seen running along the ground or perching on low thorny shrubs and rocks. The long tail is usually held up and the chestnut undertail coverts and dark body make them easily distinguishable from pied bushchats and Oriental magpie-robins.

Oriental magpie-robin Species of bird

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Indian blue robin Species of bird

The Indian blue robin is a small bird found in the Indian Subcontinent. Formerly considered a thrush, it is now considered one of the Old World flycatchers in the family Muscicapidae. It was earlier also called the Indian blue chat. It is migratory, breeding in the forests along the Himalayas of Nepal, India, Myanmar and Bangladesh. They winter in the hill forests of the Western Ghats of India and in Sri Lanka.

Ashy drongo Species of bird

The ashy drongo is a species of bird in the drongo family Dicruridae. It is found widely distributed across South and Southeast Asia with several populations that vary in the shade of grey, migration patterns and in the size or presence of white patches around the eye.

White-bellied drongo Species of bird

The white-bellied drongo is a species of drongo found across the Indian Subcontinent. Like other members of the family Dicruridae, they are insectivorous and mainly black in colour, but with a white belly and vent. Young birds are, however, all black and may be confused with the black drongo, which is smaller and more compact in appearance. The subspecies found in Sri Lanka has white restricted to the vent.

Indian cuckoo Species of bird

The Indian cuckoo is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes, that is found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It ranges from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia and north to China and Russia. It is a solitary and shy bird, found in forests and open woodland at up to 3,600 m (11,800 ft).

<i>Lanius</i> Genus of birds

Lanius, the typical shrikes, are a genus of passerine birds in the shrike family Laniidae. The majority of the family's species are placed in this genus. The genus name, Lanius, is derived from the Latin word for "butcher", and some shrikes are also known as "butcher birds" because of their feeding habits. The common English name "shrike" is from Old English scríc, "shriek", referring to the shrill call.

Indian pied myna Species of bird

The Indian pied myna is a species of starling found in the Indian subcontinent. It is usually found in small groups mainly on the plains and low foothills. It is often seen within cities and villages although it is not as bold as the common myna. It produces a range of calls made up of liquid notes.

Black baza Species of bird

The black baza is a small sized bird of prey found in the forests of the Northeast India, the eastern Himalayas, China and Southeast Asia. Many populations are migratory. The races in the Indian region are migratory, wintering in the south of the Peninsula and Sri Lanka. The black bazas have short, stout legs and feet with strong talons. A prominent crest is a feature of the bazas. They are found in dense forest often in small groups. They are also known to spend a lot of time perching on bare branches of tall trees rising above the forest canopy.

Baya weaver Species of bird found in southeast Asia

The baya weaver is a weaverbird found across the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Flocks of these birds are found in grasslands, cultivated areas, scrub and secondary growth and they are best known for their hanging retort shaped nests woven from leaves. These nest colonies are usually found on thorny trees or palm fronds and the nests are often built near water or hanging over water where predators cannot reach easily. They are widespread and common within their range but are prone to local, seasonal movements mainly in response to rain and food availability.

Ashy minivet Species of bird

The ashy minivet is a passerine bird of eastern Asia belonging to the minivet genus Pericrocotus in the cuckooshrike family Campephagidae. While most of the minivets have shades of yellow, orange and red in their plumage, this species has only greys, whites and blacks. The male is distinctive with a white face and black nape although females can be confused with the female of the brown-rumped minivet. They forage in the canopy, often along with other minivets and join mixed-species foraging flocks.

Himmatsinhji M. K. was a noted ornithologist, politician and scion of the erstwhile Jadeja ruling family of Kutch, who was member of 3rd Lok Sabha from Kutch.

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2016). "Lanius cristatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22705011A93995637. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22705011A93995637.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ↑ Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp.  142, 219. ISBN   978-1-4081-2501-4.
  3. ↑ "Shrike" . Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  4. ↑ Edwards, George (1747). A Natural History of Uncommon Birds. Vol. Part II. London: Printed for the author at the College of Physicians. p. 54, Plate 54.
  5. ↑ Linnaeus, Carl (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. 1 (10th ed.). Holmiae (Stockholm): Laurentii Salvii. p. 93.
  6. ↑ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 121. ISBN   978-1-4081-2501-4.
  7. ↑ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (July 2021). "Shrikes, vireos, shrike-babblers". IOC World Bird List Version 11.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  8. ↑ Takagi, M (1996). "A sexual difference in plumage of Brown Shrike subspecies, Lanius cristatus superciliosus". J. Yamashina Inst. Ornithol. 28 (2): 103–105. doi: 10.3312/jyio1952.28.103 .
  9. ↑ Takagi, Masaoki (1996). "Sexual Size Dimorphism and Sex Determination of a Brown Shrike subspecies, Lanius cristatus superciliosus". Jap. J. Ornithol. 45 (3): 187–190. doi: 10.3838/jjo.45.187 .
  10. 1 2 3 Rasmussen, PC & JC Anderton (2005). Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Volume 2. Smithsonian Institution & Lynx Edicions. pp. 349–350.
  11. 1 2 3 Ali, S & SD Ripley. Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan. Volume 5 (2nd ed.). New Delhi: Oxford University Press. pp. 98–100.
  12. ↑ McGregor, RC (1909). A manual of Philippine birds. Part 1. Bureau of Printing, Manila. pp. 596–599.
  13. ↑ Worfolk, Tim (2000). "Identification of red-backed, isabelline and brown shrikes" (PDF). Dutch Birding. 22 (6): 323–362.
  14. ↑ Mauersberger, G; Portenko, L A (1971). "Lanius collurio L., Lanius isabellinus Hemprich u. Ehrenberg und Lanius cristatus L." (PDF). Atlas der Verbreitung palaearktischer Vögel (in German). Vol. III. Akademie-verlag, Berlin. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  15. ↑ Ishizuka, T. "A case of hybridization in Brown Shrike subspecies， Lanius cristatus lucionensis and L．c．supercillosus in Kanazawa" (PDF). Strix. 9: 71–75.
  16. ↑ Imanishi, S; Yoshimitsu Shigeta & Toshiyuki Yoshino (2007). "Interspecific Pair of a Male Brown and a Female Thick-billed Shrike, Lanius cristatus superciliosus and L. tigrinus, and Their Hybrids at Nobeyama Plateau in Central Japan". J. Yamashina Inst. Ornithol. 38 (2): 90–96. doi: 10.3312/jyio.38.90 .
  17. ↑ Kennedy, Robert (2000). A Guide to the Birds of the Philippines. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0198546689.
  18. ↑ Ocon, Romy. "Brown Shrike - Bird Watch (Pbase)". Wild Bird Club of the Philippines. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  19. ↑ Obon, Romy. "Trees of Alabang hills". Manila Old Timer. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  20. ↑ Balachandran S & Rajan Sehgal (2008). "Occurrence of Lanius cristatus lucionensis in the Western Ghats, Kerala". J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 105 (2): 220–221.
  21. ↑ Balachandran, S; Rajan, S Alagar (1994). "Philippine Shrike Lanius cristatus lucionensis, a regular winter visitor to South India". J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 91 (1): 143–144.
  22. ↑ Mohapatra, KK; Santharam, V (1992). "Occurrence of the Philippine Shrike Lanius cristatus lucionensis Linn. in coastal Andhra Pradesh". J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 89 (2): 255–256.
  23. ↑ Ticehurst, Claud B (1936). "The Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus Linn.) in Burma and Assam". J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 38 (4): 824–825.
  24. ↑ King, B.; D. Finch; R. Stallcup & W. Russell (1978). "First North American sighting of Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) and Dusky Warbler (Phylloscopus fuscatus), and second of Red-throated Flycatcher (Ficedula parva)". American Birds. 32: 158–160.
  25. ↑ Foxall, Roger & Ian McLaren (1998). "A Brown Shrike in Halifax, Nova Scotia: First for Canada". Birders Journal. 7 (1): 32–36.
  26. ↑ "Rare bird seen in Malta for the first time: Brown Shrike spotted in the south by BirdLife". Times of Malta. 3 November 2017.
  27. 1 2 Lord Medway (1970). "A ringing study of the migratory brown shrike in West Malaysia". Ibis. 112 (2): 184–198. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1970.tb00092.x.
  28. ↑ Rimmer, CC & CH Darmstadt (1996). "Non-breeding site fidelity in Northern Shrikes". J. Field Ornithol. 67 (3): 360–366.
  29. ↑ Takagi, Masaoki (2003). "Philopatry and Habitat Selection in Bull-Headed and Brown Shrikes". Journal of Field Ornithology. 74 (1): 45–52. doi:10.1648/0273-8570-74.1.45. S2CID   86155111.
  30. ↑ Severinghaus, Lucia Liu (1996). "Territory strategy of the migratory Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus". Ibis. 138 (3): 460–465. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.693.1524 . doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1996.tb08065.x.
  31. ↑ Betts, FN (1929). "Distribution of the Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus cristatus". J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 33 (3): 714.
  32. ↑ Law, SC (1928). "On the migratory habit of Lanius cristatus cristatus Linn. as observed in the city of Calcutta". Ibis. 70 (3): 478–480. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1928.tb08732.x.
  33. ↑ Praveen, J (1995). "The song of the Brown Shrike". Newsletter for Birdwatchers . 35 (1): 18.
  34. ↑ Dresser, HE (1902). A manual of palearctic birds. Part 1. Self published, London. pp. 240–242.
  35. ↑ Yosef, Reuven (2004). "Perch-site use and inter- and intraspecific aggression of migratory Brown Shrikes (Lanius cristatus) in Southern Taiwan" (PDF). Biological Letters. 41 (2): 113–118. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  36. ↑ Ganguli, U (1962). "The Redtailed Skink as a food for birds". Newsletter for Birdwatchers . 2 (5): 4–5.
  37. ↑ Severinghaus, L. L. & C. T. Liang (1995). "Food and foraging of the Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) in Taiwan". In Yosef, R. & F. E. Lohrer (eds.). Shrikes (Laniidae) of the world: biology and conservation. (Proc. of the First Int. Shrike Symposium – Proc. of the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology, No. 6). Archbold Biological Station, Lake Placid, Florida, USA. pp. 194–199.

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