Red-tailed Shrike
Lanius phoenicuroides
棕尾伯劳
Introduction
A medium-sized migratory passerine in the shrike family (Laniidae). It breeds across south Siberia and Central Asia. This species inhabits open cultivated country with thorn bushes. Like other shrikes, it caches prey by impaling carcasses on thorns or barbed wire. Formerly considered conspecific with the isabelline shrike and red-backed shrike.
Description
Plumage is sandy-colored throughout. The tail is distinctly reddish. This is a medium-sized shrike, though no specific measurements are provided in the source material.
Distribution & Habitat
Breeds throughout south Siberia and Central Asia. Details of wintering range and migration routes are not provided in the source.
Behavior & Ecology
Diet consists of large insects, small birds, rodents, and lizards. It hunts from prominent perches and stores surplus prey by impaling carcasses on thorns or barbed wire—a characteristic shrike behavior. It breeds in open cultivated country, preferably with thorn bushes present. It is migratory.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Laniidae
- Genus
- Lanius
- eBird Code
- rutshr2
Distribution
Iran to Pakistan, southern Kazakhstan, and far western China (western Xinjiang)
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.