Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Bay-backed Shrike (Lanius vittatus)
Bay-backed Shrike

Bay-backed Shrike

Lanius vittatus

The Bay-backed Shrike, Lanius vittatus, presents itself as a modestly sized bird, measuring approximately 17 centimeters in length. Its upperparts are cloaked in a maroon-brown, contrasted by a conspicuously pale rump, while its tail is a deep black adorned with white edges. The underparts of this bird are predominantly white, with the exception of buff-colored flanks that add a subtle warmth to its plumage. A distinguished grey crown and nape grace its head, complemented by a striking black 'bandit mask' that extends through the eye. A small white patch can be observed on the wing, and both the bill and legs exhibit a dark grey hue. In terms of sexual dimorphism, the sexes appear similar, though the juveniles display a more diluted version of the adult's coloration.

Identification Tips

When identifying the Bay-backed Shrike, look for the characteristic black mask and the contrast between the maroon-brown back and pale rump. The white wing patch is also a key feature to note. The bird's upright posture on a perch is typical of shrikes and can aid in identification.

Habitat

This shrike favors bushes in scrubby areas and cultivated lands as its preferred habitat. It is a bird that thrives in the interface between wilderness and human-altered landscapes.

Distribution

The Bay-backed Shrike is a resident breeder with a distribution that spans across South Asia, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, and India. It has also been recently recorded in Sri Lanka, indicating a possible range expansion.

Behaviour

The Bay-backed Shrike exhibits a quintessential 'shrike' demeanor, often perched upright on a bush. From this vantage point, it launches to capture a variety of prey, including lizards, large insects, small birds, and rodents. It employs a unique method of securing its catch by impaling it upon sharp objects like thorns, facilitating the consumption of its meal with its robust hooked bill. However, its feet are not adapted for tearing.

Breeding

Breeding for this species occurs in bushes located within its preferred scrubby and cultivated habitats. The Bay-backed Shrike lays a clutch of 3 to 5 eggs, investing in the future of its lineage with each breeding season.

Conservation status

The Bay-backed Shrike is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, suggesting that, for now, this species does not face immediate threats to its survival on a global scale.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Bay-backed Shrikes on Birda

Sightings
A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for Ashmita ,Malhotra
Ashmita ,Malhotra
03 Mar 2024 - 11:55am
India

More Shrikes

Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Leonie
We've been waiting for an App like this
Excellent! We've been waiting for an app like this! Thank you! It would be nice if you could assign additional birds to sessions later!
SW H
Wonderful App
Birda is my go to app for keeping records of my bird sightings and sessions. It has fantastic information which is great at aiding identification. With all the updates that are coming in the new year, this app is something special.
Abi.M
Awesome App
I really enjoy using this app! It is such a friendly community of bird-lovers who are happy to help if I need ID advice. It’s been great motivation to get outdoors and go birding more! 10/10 😍😍
Hip An
Fantastic
Really enjoying Birda where I live i have a lot of Red kites really hard to photograph but I can video are you planning some place on the app where us Birda can post vids🦉🦅
Jane N
A great app
Enjoying it immensely and finding it useful too. Recording the different birds and counting them is showing me how the present climate is affecting them all. I've trebled the numbers by planting native hedging. A great app.
David C
Very knowledgeable group
Nice friendly birding community. Very knowledgeable group with a willingness to help.
Pdydhdrexgi
Fantastic App
This is a really lovely app, for everyone interested in birds - from newbies to old hands. There is a very friendly feel to the community and you will genuinely learn a lot as you record your sightings and photos. There are lots of badges and competitions to keep you engaged, and a host of really useful features.
Dan R
Great app for bird fanatics
Great app for bird fanatics - very user friendly and a perfect place to share sightings.
Birdafan
Ideal Birdwatch Companion
Simply adds to the enjoyment of my birdwatching and helps me record what I’ve seen.
SuperOliviaGirl
Really great app
It’s easy to use and it’s fun to log the birds you notice on a walk or just in your garden. There’s a option to record the birds you see in a session which is really nice. Good excuse to stop for a while and just watch birds. I am also enjoying the information part where you can find out fact about birds from all over the world.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.