Isabelline Shrikes
Shrikes
The Isabelline Shrike (Lanius isabellinus) is a member of the shrike family (Laniidae). It is the eastern equivalent of the Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) with which it used to be considered conspecific (of, or belonging to, the same species).
Distribution / Range
The Isabelline Shrike breeds in south Siberia and central Asia (race L. i. phoenicuroides, known as Turkestan Shrike) and China (race L. i. isabellinus, known as Daurian Shrike) and winters in the tropics. These two races are sometimes regarded as separate species. It is a rare vagrant to western Europe, including Great Britain, usually in autumn.
Diet / Feeding
This migratory medium-sized passerine eats large insects, small birds, voles and lizards. Like other shrikes it hunts from prominent perches, and impales corpses on thorns or barbed wire as a larder.
Breeding
It breeds in open cultivated country, preferably with thorn bushes.
Description
The plumage is isabelline, the sandy colour which gives rise to its name. It has a red tail. Young birds can be distinguished from young Red-backed Shrikes by the much sparser vermiculations (= a pattern of fine, wavy, worm-like lines or streaks of color)on the underparts.
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