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A photo of a Grey-backed Shrike (Lanius tephronotus)
Grey-backed Shrike

Grey-backed Shrike

Lanius tephronotus

The grey-backed shrike (Lanius tephronotus) is a bird in the family Laniidae inhabiting South-east Asia. The species is 21–25 cm long and weighs 39-54 g. It is a shrike with long tail. The nominate race has black lowermost forehead (just over base of bill) and facial mask through lores and eye to rear ear-coverts; crown to nape and most of upperparts dark grey, small rufous rump patch; upperwing black, most wing-coverts, secondaries and tertials fringed pale rufous to whitish, sometimes tiny white patch at base of primaries (often lacking); tail chestnut-brown, tipped buffish, outermost pair of rectrices light brown; throat and undertail brownish-grey; iris dark brown; bill black or dark green; legs dull black or dark green. Sexes very similar. Juvenile is browner above than adult, with less marked brown (not black) facial mask, horn-colored lower mandible, has crown finely barred, upperparts and much of underparts heavily barred dark brownish. Race lahulensis is smaller and weaker-billed than nominate, also much paler, brownish-grey above, with rufous lower back and rump, white primary patch usually slightly larger and more visible, tail sometimes blackish (not brown). Voice: Rough, breathing-like call. Territorial call described as harsh zzert-zzert..., tchert-tchert... or tzert-tzert...; repertoire includes also a repeated ktcht-ktcht-ktcht given at dusk or as alarm. Breeding song subdued and musical, with mimicry of other bird calls lasting several minutes. Voice seems to be similar to that of L. schach.
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Grey-backed Shrikes on Birda

Sightings

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🦅
Николай Марченко
Sunday 09 Apr 2023 - 6:30am
Thailand
A map showing the sighting location
🦉
THC Photography
Sunday 26 Mar 2023 - 7:25am
Nepal
A map showing the sighting location
🦒
Stephen Maycock
Monday 09 Jan 2023 - 4:30pm
Nepal
A map showing the sighting location
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Lucas Corneliussen
Sunday 08 Jan 2023 - 7:03am
Thailand
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