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Brown Shrike

Lanius cristatusOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Shrikes (Laniidae)

Brown Shrike Portrait
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General

Brown Shrike: Small shrike with warm brown upperparts and buff underparts. Face is white with black mask; throat is white. Bill is short, heavy, and hooked. Tail is long and round-tipped with faint bars. Sexes are similar. Juvenile has lightly scaled upperparts and barred underparts.

Range and Habitat

Brown Shrike: Asian species casually occurring in Alaska from the western Aleutians, St. Lawrence Island, and Anchorage; fall and winter records from California. Preferred habitats include lowlands, farmlands, downlands, and orchards with thickets and scrub.

Voice Text

"Chack"

Interesting Facts

 The Brown, Red-backed, and Isabelline shrikes were once regarded as part of a large super-species.

 In 1977 & 1979 the Dutch ornithologist K. H. Voous published studies that argued for them to be regarded as separate species, which they have been ever since.

 With its narrow habitat requirements, they appear to have suffered significantly from habitat loss, while others such as the Bull-headed Shrike has not been adversely affected.

 A group of shrikes are collectively known as an "abbatoir" and a "watch" of shrikes.



Author

Gary Owen Dick

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Range Map for Brown Shrike
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Family Shrike (Laniidae)_blue
Species Lanius cristatus
Length7.5 Inches
Wingspan9.75 Inches

Brown Shrike

Brown Shrike: Small shrike, with warm brown upperparts and buff underparts. Face is white with black mask; throat is white. Bill is short, heavy, and hooked. Tail is long and round-tipped with faint bars. Eats small snakes, rodents, birds and insect. Low, swift flight on shallow, rapid wing beats.

● Song: "Chack"

● Foraging & Feeding: Brown Shrike: Diet includes insects, reptiles, and small mammals. Forages by perching on a bush, fence post, or power line; prey is often taken to a larder and impaled on a thorn or wedged in a fork.

● Breeding & nesting: Brown Shrike: Four to seven brown spotted, pink or white eggs are laid in a nest made of sticks lined with feathers, hair, and fine materials. Incubation ranges from 12 to 16 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Brown Shrike: Other North American shrikes are gray and white.

Flight Pattern

Undulating flight.
Brown Shrike Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Brown Shrike: Asian species casually occurring in Alaska from the western Aleutians, St. Lawrence Island, and Anchorage; fall and winter records from California. Preferred habitats include lowlands, farmlands, downlands, and orchards with thickets and scrub.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
PopulationAccidental in AK and CA
MigrationMigratory
Weight1 Ounces