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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 "abattoir" and a "watch" of shrikes.


Author

Gary Owen Dick

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Range Map for Brown Shrike
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Family
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