Brown Shrike
Lanius cristatus
红尾伯劳
Introduction
Brown shrike (Lanius cristatus) is a bird in the shrike family found mainly across Asia. It is closely related to the red-backed shrike (L. collurio) and isabelline shrike (L. isabellinus). The genus name Lanius derives from the Latin word for 'butcher,' referencing their feeding habits. This species breeds in temperate Asia and migrates to tropical Asia for winter. It inhabits open scrub habitats where it perches atop thorny bushes to hunt prey. Vagrants have been recorded in Europe and North America.
Description
This shrike is mainly brown on the upper parts with a rounded tail. It has a distinctive black 'bandit-mask' through the eye, which can be paler in winter with a white brow above it. The underside is creamy with rufous flanks and belly. The wings are brown and lack white 'mirror' patches. Females show fine scalloping on the underside and have a darker, less defined mask compared to males. Subspecies lucionensis has a grey crown shading into brown upperparts with a more rufous rump. Subspecies superciliosus displays a broad white supercilium and richer reddish crown, with a redder tail tipped in white.
Identification
The tail is more brownish and less reddish than that of the red-backed shrike. The superciliosus subspecies has a redder tail tipped in white, distinguishing it from other forms. Central Asian populations where cristatus, isabellinus, and collurio overlap present identification challenges due to similar plumages. Females are difficult to distinguish in the field but can be identified by the presence of a brood patch during breeding season. Multiple measurements allow sex discrimination in about 90% of birds.
Distribution & Habitat
The nominate form breeds in northern Asia from Mongolia to Siberia and winters in South Asia, Myanmar, and the Malay Peninsula. Subspecies superciliosus (Japanese shrike) breeds on Sakhalin, Kuril, and Japan, wintering in Hainan, Sumatra, Java, and the Lesser Sunda Islands. Subspecies lucionensis (Philippine shrike) breeds in Korea and eastern China, wintering primarily in Taiwan, the Philippines, Andaman Islands, and peninsular India. This species is rare in Europe with vagrants recorded in the United States and Canada.
Behavior & Ecology
This migratory species shows high fidelity to wintering sites, often returning to the same locations each year. Birds establish wintering territories shortly after arrival, using loud chattering or rattling calls. Migration timing is regular, arriving in India in August-September and departing in April. The song is faint, resembles the rosy starling, and includes mimicry of other birds; the bird sings with a closed beak while moving its tail up and down. The breeding season occurs late May to June in taiga, forest, and semi-desert habitats. They build nests in trees or bushes, laying two to six eggs. Diet consists mainly of insects, especially Lepidoptera, but also small birds and lizards. Like other shrikes, they impale prey on thorns.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Laniidae
- Genus
- Lanius
- eBird Code
- brnshr
Vocalizations
Subspecies (4)
-
Lanius cristatus confusus
breeds Manchuria and Amurland; winters to Malay Peninsula and Sumatra
-
Lanius cristatus cristatus
breeds eastern Siberia to northwestern Mongolia; winters to India and Malay Peninsula
-
Lanius cristatus lucionensis
breeds Korea and eastern China; winters to Philippines, Borneo, and Sulawesi
-
Lanius cristatus superciliosus
breeds southern Sakhalin and Japan; winters to Sumatra and Lesser Sundas
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.