Brown Shrike
Lanius cristatus
The Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) is a common shrik found in 46 countries, weighing about 32 g. The brown shrike is a bird in the shrike family that is found mainly in Asia.
About the Brown Shrike
The brown shrike is a bird in the shrike family that is found mainly in Asia. It is closely related to the red-backed shrike and isabelline shrike. The genus name, Lanius, is derived from the Latin word for "butcher", and some shrikes are also known as "butcher birds" because of their feeding habits. The specific cristatus is Latin for "crested", used in a broader sense than in English. The common English name "shrike" is from Old English scríc, "shriek", referring to the shrill call.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
This shrike is mainly brown on the upper parts and the tail is rounded. The black mask can be paler in winter and has a white brow over it. The underside is creamy with rufous flanks and belly. The wings are brown and lack any white "mirror" patches. Females tend to have fine scalloping on the underside and the mask is dark brown and not as well marked as in the male. The distinction is not easy to use in the field but has been tested with breeding birds in Japan where the female can be identified from the presence of a brood patch.
What the Brown Shrike sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, Sweden, France, Spain, Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Afghanistan, Germany.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in October. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Brown Shrike?
- This shrike is mainly brown on the upper parts and the tail is rounded. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Brown Shrike?
- The Brown Shrike is a small sized bird weighing about 32 g.
- Where can you see a Brown Shrike?
- The Brown Shrike occurs in 46 countries, including Taiwan, India, Thailand, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.
- What does a Brown Shrike sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Brown Shrike on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Brown Shrike?
- The Brown Shrike is most easily confused with the Long-tailed Shrike, the Great Grey Shrike and the Southern Fiscal.
- Is the Brown Shrike endangered?
- The Brown Shrike is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Brown Shrike for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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