Isabelline Shrike

Overview

The isabelline shrike, also known as the Daurian shrike (Lanius isabellinus), is a medium-sized passerine belonging to the shrike family. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Plumage is predominantly isabelline, a sandy greyish-yellow colour, with a distinct red tail.
• Young birds feature much sparser vermiculations on the underparts compared to young red-backed shrikes.

Habitat

Found in an extensive area stretching from the Caspian Sea to north and central China, reaching southeast to the Qaidam Basin. It breeds in open cultivated country, preferably with thorn bushes, and overwinters in Africa and Arabia.

Diet

This species feeds on large insects, small birds, rodents, and lizards. It hunts from prominent perches and impales corpses on thorns or barbed wire to create a larder.

Did you know?

The common name derives from the specific epithet isabellinus, which likely references Isabella I of Castile, who reportedly promised not to change her undergarments until Spain was freed from the Moors.