Brown Shrike

The Brown Shrike, Lanius cristatus, is a small passerine bird in the shrike family. It was formerly often considered conspecific with the closely-related Red-backed Shrike, L. collurio, and Isabelline Shrike, L. isabellinus.

This bird breeds across central and eastern Asia. It is migratory, wintering south to India, southeast Asia and Indonesia. A wide range of habitats is used for breeding, from taiga and deciduous forest to semi-desert. It builds its nest in a tree or bush, laying 2-6 eggs.

In winter, Brown Shrike is found in secondary forest, often close to human habitation. This species is a rare vagrant to Europe, and has been recorded in Nova Scotia, Canada.

The food is mainly insects and small birds and mammals, caught by a sally from a prominent perch. This is a typical shrike hunting technique.

Brown Shrike is a small shrike. Like its relatives, it is long-tailed, and perches quite upright. The adult male's upper parts and crown are darkish brown. The face is white with the typical shrike black "bandit-mask" through the eye. Underparts are yellowish buff, although the hues vary somewhat between the different races.

Females are less contrasted and have a greyer crown. Immature Brown Shrikes are scalloped on the underparts.