Shrikes in the UAE

Turkestan-, Daurian-, Red-backed- and Brown Shrikes in the UAE

From British Birds 1982. 75(9): 395-406.; Field characters of Isabelline and Brown Shrikes
By A. R. Dean

Summary: Although the Isabelline Lanius isabellinus and Red-backed Shrikes L. collurio are very closely related, and intergrading and hybridization have been reported, typical individuals of each species can nevertheless be identified in the field. A white primary patch is a consistent feature only on adult male Isabelline Shrikes of certain races, but there are other specific characters.

Aging is an important preliminary to identification, since in first-winter plumage the effectively unbarred mantle of the Isabelline Shrike is in itself a useful feature. On adults and first-winter birds, distinctly rufous tail, uppertail-coverts and lower rump contrasting with a pallid gray-brown to sandy mantle, and virtually unmarked body plumage, are good indicators of Isabelline Shrike, though some darker females of the race L. i. phoenicuroidies have less distinct body plumage. Such birds require care, as a small percentage of female Red-backed Shrikes have atypically rufous tails. Immature Red-backed Shrikes not infrequently display a significant rufous component to both tail and lower rump; since juveniles Isabellines may have visibly barred mantles, the overlap of characters between July and early September may be considerable.

Subsidiary characters of the Isabelline Shrike include the lack of discrete white margins to the tail and, especially in immatures and L. i. isabellinus, a pellucid pink-tinged base to the bill.

The Brown Shrike L. c. cristatus is more problematical. Compared with the Isabelline shrike, birds of the nominate form display rather russet upperparts and basically concolorous mantle and rump, while the tail is russet-brown or ochraceous rather than rufous. The underparts frequently display an extensive russet flush. Certain eastern races, however, are rather grayer above and have a visibly rufous-tinged rump. There is normally no visible white primary patch, though on a few individuals a trace of white remains unconcealed by the coverts. Immatures are visibly barred, though generally less extensively than the Red-backed.

Web-pictures of various Brown Shrikes from Europe and the Far East:

http://www.surfbirds.com/cgi-bin/gallery/search2.cgi?species=Brown%20Shrike

1. 'Tommy's shrike', possible 1st winter Brown Shrike or adult female Red-backed Shrike , FNDF 25.10.2006:

From Lars Svensson:

I vote for collurio considering the ear-coverts are so rufous. The two others in the group have darker, greyer ear-coverts with very little rufous in them. One could add that the greater and median coverts indicate 1st winter, but then the upperparts are unusually plain and unbarred for it being a collurio (but much better for a late autumn cristatus).

From Alan R. Dean:

The wing-point is rather short, showing only four primary tips clearly visible beyond the tertials. This suggests Brown Shrike I feel and the third photo in the series looks very like a Brown to my eye, including the rather narrow-looking tail. Unfortunately, none of the photos shows whether the outermost tail feather is distinctly shorter than the penultimate rectrix. However, even without this 'clinching' character being revealed, I would favour Brown, and this is the one individual where I would favour a diagnosis different from Lars.

It is important to also include the fact, as noted by Lars, that the bird is a first-winter, as evidenced by the pattern of the coverts (with subterminal dark contour lines). The plain mantle on a bird of this age is further evidence that this individual is a Brown Shrike.

Later from Lars Svensson:

A quick comment to Alan's welcome support for most of my 'verdicts'.

I can agree that the so-called 'Tommy's shrike' looks a lot like a Brown Shrike as well -- I did hesitate before I wrote 'probable collurio'. I laid most weight on rufous ear-coverts and rufous shoulder area, which both hint at collurio. But I also noted the apparently very narrow tail-feathers which are typical of cristatus. One could add that the greater and median coverts indicate 1stW, but then the upperparts are unusually plain and unbarred for it being a collurio (but much better for a late autumn cristatus). Maybe if I see more specimens of the latter I can change my mind. There are not that many available in Stockholm.

Best wishes, Lars

From us in the UAE; a big thank you to both Lars and Alan for taking the time to comment on this bird.

2. 'Neil's shrike', adult female Daurian Shrike FNDF 24.-25.10.2006:

From Lars Svensson:

I am leaning towards it being an ad female phoenicuroides.It is rather light brown-grey above, which is not good for the other two in the trio. Light supercilium prominent also, and rufous tinge on crown. Should be phoenicuroides.

3. 'Steve's shrike', juvenile to 1st winter Red-backed Shrike?, FNDF 24.-25.10.2006:

Red-backed Shrike has been proposed for this bird.

4. Another 1st winter Red-backed Shrike, FNDF 25.10.2006:

Midfield FNDF being dominated by 'Tommy's Shrike' above, FNDF 25.10.2006:

5. Turkestan Shrike, var. 'karelini', FNDF 25.10.2006:

From Lars Svensson:

This I think is a var. 'karelini' of L. i. phoenicuroides. Everything fits well with this interpretation.

6. Turkestan Shrike, var. 'karelini', FNDF 25.10.2006:

From Lars Svensson:

This I think is a var. 'karelini' of L. i. phoenicuroides. Everything fits well with this interpretation.

7. Possible Red-backed Shrike, Dubai Pivot Fields 04.11.2006:

Note the fairly heavy bill

From Lars Svensson:

An oddly pale bird, presumably still largely in juvenile plumage. (Retarded moult?) I rather pass on this. It could be collurio.

From Alan R. Dean:

The undertail does not appear to be rufous (unless it is extremely bleached) which would also point away from Isabelline, on which the undertail as well as the uppertail is distinctly 'rufous'.

8. Another Red-backed Shrike at FNDF, end September 2006 (extensive tail-flicking observed)