Isabelline Shrike vs Masked Shrike

Isabelline Shrike

Lanius isabellinus

Small25 gShrubland

The plumage is isabelline, the sandy colour which gives rise to its name. It has a red tail. Young birds can be distinguished from young red-backed shrikes by the much sparser vermiculations on the underparts.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Кирилл · CC BY 4.0

Masked Shrike

Lanius nubicus

Small20 gWoodland

The masked shrike is the smallest of its genus, a slender bird which usually weighs 20–23 g (0.71–0.81 oz), measuring 17–18.5 cm (6.7–7.3 in) long with a 24–26.5 cm (9.4–10.4 in) wingspan. It has a long tail and relatively small bill, on each side of which is a tomial tooth; the upper mandible bears a triangular ridge which fits a corresponding notch in the lower mandible. This adaptation is otherwise only found in falcons. The male has mainly black upperparts, a white crown, forehead and supercilium. Voice: The masked shrike gives the harsh calls typical of this family, with repeated tsr, tzr or shek notes and some whistles, and when alarmed produces a rattling krrrr. The bill may be snapped when the bird is agitated. The song, up to a minute long, is soft for a shrike, with chattering sounds interspersed with rich warbles.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Bouke ten Cate · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Isabelline Shrike and Masked Shrike.