Brown Shrike
Brown Shrike
Lanius cristatus
At a Glance
Common in Asia, this species is similar in habits to the North American shrikes, but it tends to be more elusive, spending less time perching conspicuously in the open. Brown Shrikes are rare visitors in spring and fall to western and southern Alaska, and have wandered as far south as California a few times.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Perching Birds
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Habitat
Fields, Meadows, and Grasslands, Shrublands, Savannas, and Thickets, Tundra and Boreal Habitats
Behavior
Direct Flight, Swooping
Range & Identification
Description
7 1/2" (19 cm). Slim, with slightly hooked, stubby bill and fairly long tail. Brown back, pale eyebrow, blackish mask. Adult has tan underparts; juvenile more whitish or grayish below, with heavy barring on sides and flanks.
Size
About the size of a Robin, About the size of a Sparrow
Color
Black, Brown, Gray, Tan, White
Wing Shape
Rounded
Tail Shape
Long, Rounded
Songs and Calls
Call Type
Chatter, Harsh, Nasal
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Behavior
Diet
Mostly insects, small rodents, and small birds.