Red-tailed Shrike

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Red-tailed Shrike
Conservation status
Not recognized (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Laniidae
Genus: Lanius
Species: L. phoenicuroides
Binomial name
Lanius phoenicuroides
Schalow, 1875

The Red-tailed Shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides) is a member of the shrike family (Laniidae). It was formerly considered conspecific with the Isabelline Shrike and the Red-backed Shrike. The Red-tailed Shrike breeds in south Siberia and central Asia.

This migratory medium-sized passerine eats large insects, small birds, rodents and lizards. Like other shrikes it hunts from prominent perches, and impales corpses on thorns or barbed wire as a larder. It breeds in open cultivated country, preferably with thorn bushes.

The plumage is a sandy colour. It has a red tail.

References

    Further reading

    Identification

    • Worfolk, Tim (2000) Identification of red-backed, isabelline and brown shrikes Dutch Birding 22 (6): 323-362

    Vagrant occurrences

    • Message, Stephen (2001) The Turkestan Shrike in Kent Birding World 14(10):432-434

    External links

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