Description
Long-tailed shrike is a commonly seen shrike in the Indian region. It has a length of 23-27 cm and weighs around 50-53 gm. It has dark-grey head and mantle, black forehead and band running through the eyes. Bright rufous rump and lower back and washed rufous under parts. Its wings are blackish with small white primary patches. It has a long. black and graduated tail. Its bill is stout hooked and blackish. Eyes are brown and legs and feet are grey.
Sexes are alike. Juveniles are duller in color and have streaked body sides.
Food: It mainly feeds on grasshoppers, large insects, lizards, rodents, small birds. It usually impales its prey upon a sharp pointy thing like thorn, secures it and rips with its stout bill.
Call: Melodious, known for its mimicry of other birds. It is very vocal during pair formation.
Nesting behavior: Although it varies but mainly February to July is the breeding season. Its nest is deep compact cup formed with twigs, roots, stems, grass in fork of branches of small trees. Its nest has a lining of grass and rootlets.
Eggs are 3-6 in number, pale greenish white blotched and purplish brown spots. Incubation period is of 13-16 days, done by female.
Habitat: Mainly seen in open areas, light woods, scrub lands and cultivated areas.
Distribution: It is common throughout the Indian region, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Srilanka, upto 3000 meters of Himalayas.\
Reference:
