Bay-backed Shrike

l..8nlus vtttatus

Beak

—

Feet

—

Crest

No crest

Widespread resident; unrecorded in the northeast and Sri Lanka. I> Adult has black forehead, pale grey crown and nape, deep maroon mantle, whitish rump, and white patch at base of primaries. Juvenile told from juvenile Long-tailed Shrike by smaller size and shorter tail. more uniform greyish/ bullish base colour to upperparts, pale rump, and more intricately patterned wing-coverts and tertials (with buff fringes and dark subterminal crescents and central marks), and primary coverts a reprominently tipped with buff. First-year like washed-out version of adult; lacks black forehead. Voice Song is a pleasant, rambling warble with much mimicry; call is a harsh churring. Open dry scrub, and bushes in cultivation.