Bay-backed Shrike
| Bay-backed Shrike | |
|---|---|
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| L. vittatus at Ananthagiri Hills, in Rangareddy district of Andhra Pradesh, India. | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Laniidae |
| Genus: | Lanius |
| Species: | L. vittatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Lanius vittatus Valenciennes, 1826 |
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The Bay-backed Shrike, Lanius vittatus, is a member of the bird family Laniidae, the shrikes, resident in South Asia.
Contents |
[edit] Description
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It is smallish shrike at 17 cm, maroon-brown above with a pale rump and long black tail with white edges. The underparts are white, but with buff flanks.[2] The crown and nape are grey, with a typical shrike black bandit mask through the eye. There is a small white wing patch, and the bill and legs are dark grey.[2]
Sexes are similar, but young birds are washed-out versions of the adults.[2]
[edit] Habits and habitat
Bay-backed Shrike has a characteristic upright "shrike" attitude perched on a bush, from which it sallies after lizards, large insects, small birds and rodents.[2]
Prey may be impaled upon a sharp point, such as a thorn. Thus secured they can be ripped with the strong hooked bill, but its feet are not suited for tearing.[2]
It is a widespread resident breeder in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, and has recently been recorded from Sri Lanka. It nests in bushes in scrubby areas and cultivation, laying 3-5 eggs.[1]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Compilers: Stuart Butchart, Jonathan Ekstrom (2008). "Bay-backed Shrike - BirdLife Species Factsheet". Evaluators: Jeremy Bird, Stuart Butchart BirdLife International . http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=5532&m=0. Retrieved June 2, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp. Birds of India. ISBN 0-691-04910-6.
[edit] External links
- BirdLife International (2009). Lanius vittatus. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 02 June 2009. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of Least Concern
[edit] Gallery
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in Hyderabad, India.
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at Ananthagiri Hills, in Rangareddy district of Andhra Pradesh, India.
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at Sultanpur National Park in Gurgaon District of Haryana, India.
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in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
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in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
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