Brown shrikes are indeed the
most common migratory garden varieties that we often see in Malaysia. They are
very vocal, so its easy to find them out there. They are available in Malaysia
from September to May; however, some have been recorded arriving late and stay
longer.
Its scientific name is Lanius cristatus; “Lanius” means “butcher”, whereas “cristatus” means “crest”, which is used in a broader manner than English. Its English name derived from the word “shriek”, which indicates its call. In Tamil its called as “Pazhuppu Keechaan” (பழுப்பு கீச்சான்), where “Pazhuppu” means brown, “Keechan” means shrieking bird.
There are 4 subspecies of Brown Shrikes have been seen in Malaysia:
· L. c. confusus (Amur Brown Shrike)
· L. c. superciliosus (Japanese Brown Shrike)
|
L. c.
cristatus |
L. c.
confusus |
L.c.
superciliosus |
L. c.
lucionensis |
|
|
Breeding Region |
Eastern Siberia – Mongolia |
Manchuria – |
South Sakhalin – Japan (Hokkaido to
Central Honshu) |
Korea – East China |
|
|
Wintering Region |
India - Peninsular Malaysia. |
India, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia
and Sumatra. |
SE Yunnan, Hainan and China, south to
Indochina and the Great Sunda Islands (Sumatra to Flores) |
SE China, Philippines, N Borneo and
Sulawesi, as well as in Andaman and Nicobar Island. |
1. Siberian Brown Shrike (L.c.cristatus)
The nominate race, L. c. cristatus is much robust with a larger head. The bill is more hooked. Wings are much shorter and rounded compared to other races. Tail is longer, narrow, and more graduated. Adult male has brown upperpart, with rusty brown crown and rump, with a brown tail. The flanks are chestnut washed. The supercilium is white (much homogenous in thickness) and well defined. Wings are brown; tertials and wing coverts are fringed with buff. Bill is black, but the base appears paler (pinkish) during winters.
As for the female of cristatus race, looks like similar to the males, except, has dark brown eye stripe and a paler lore. It has strong crescentic on its underparts and malar area. Field observation (Nov 2020) also revealed that there were even cristatus females with less crescentic markings and looks like a male, except for their dark brown eye stripe, lack the rusty brown crown and rump. In some cases, the male and females can be distinguished by behavioral details during breeding, due to their very similar plumage.
First winter cristatus has warm brown
upperpart and crown is often rufous, flank chestnut washed, crescentic barring
on crown, flanks and upper tail coverts.
2. Amur Brown Shrike (L.c. confusus)
The L. c. confusus race, is similar to the cristatus race, yet with homogenously colored upperpart. The wing primaries are much longer and it has a white patch on the base of its primaries. Adult male is similar to male cristatus, except it has a homogenous ashy brown upperpart, much distributed greyish white forehead (which is not well demarcated from its crown). The supercilium is white or greyish white much broader, especially at the region above the eyes. At times, the supercilium appears greyish, not well defined and merge with the crown.
Females are similar to males with strong crescentic barring one its underparts and malar area. Note that some females do have less barring, and has very much similar appearance as males.
First
winter confusus race resembles the L.c. cristatus, except upperpart is
homogenous ashy brown. 1st calendar female has barring on the malar area.
3. Japanese Brown Shrike (L. c. superciliosus)
The race superciliosus, L. c. superciliosus, as the name implies, is identified with its broad, uniform white supercilium and forehead. Adult male has a rich reddish-brown upperpart, with crown and rump appears much brighter. Some comes with cleaner underparts; chestnut washed flanks. Longer bill and more attenuated. Tail is redder with white tip.
As for female, upperpart is similar to males with paler lore and much brownish eye stripe. Less crescentic barring on the flanks, no barring on the malar area.
The first winter confusus is similar to L. c. cristatus, but with much rufous upperpart (especially crown and mantle). Pale forehead. Buff underpart with strong crescentic barring, and a brown tail. Juvenile females of confusus are similar to the adult females, with strong barring on the underparts and malar area.
4. Philippine Shrike (L. c. lucionensis)
The lucionensis race, L. c. lucionensis, is typically distinguished from other races by its greyish crown. Adult male is similar to other brown shrikes, except for supercilium and crown are greyish. Rump and upper tail coverts are chestnut; tail is brownish. Bill is black, but the base will be paler during winter. Small white patch on the base of the primaries.
Female of lucionensis is similar to male, with strong crescentic barring on underparts and malar area. Eye stripe is brown, less solid black on the lore. Pale lower mandible.
First winter lucionensis is also very similar to L. c. cristatus, but crown is grey (paler towards forehead). Mantle is greyish brown or brown.
Status and Distribution:
Occurs in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak, between September and May. Some do overstay since some Brown Shrikes are seen out of its wintering periods here*. [There not much known on the conservation status of the Brown Shrikes. The race superciliosus and lucionensis had declined by 80% in Hokkaido (Japan); causes were unknown. This may cause by habitat destruction (due to increase of agricultural land), pesticides and fires. Brown shrikes are not globally threatened and there is a little information available for its population level. Population is in declining trend (Birdlife Datazone) and yet classified as “Least Concern” by IUCN.
(* Terence Ang, July 2019, Sekinchan, Selangor; Ang Teck Hin, June 27.06.2022, Batang Tiga Rice Field, Malacca)
Confusion
Species:
Isabelline Shrike: Isabelline Shrike lacks the white supercilium of the brown shrikes. Adult male has a black eye stripe, reddish tail and pale patch on the base of its primaries. These attributes are enough to distinguish an adult male Isabelline race from the brown shrikes on the field. Females are similar to males, with paler eye stripes (brownish instead of black) and has crescentic barring on the underparts and malar area. Females’ rump and tail are reddish brown, not as bright as the males. First winter Isabelline Shrikes are similar to the female, yet much paler and with very weak barring on the underparts.
Red
Backed Shrike: Red
Backed Shrikes have shorter tail and longer wings. Eight primaries are visible
when its wings are closed. Adult male has grey crown, mantle and rump,
with a reddish-brown back and wings. The underpart is white with a peach washed
flanks. Tail is black with a thin white tip. Female shrikes similar to
male but with paler plumage. Underparts are strongly barred. Upper tails are
rufous and lower tail is grey. The juvenile shrikes are strongly barred
than any other races, with a chestnut upperparts and paler underparts. This
race has much tendency of confusion against the lucionensis race (as for the
adult birds).
Since the Isabelline and Red Backed Shrikes are not been recorded in Malaysia, therefore we don't have to consider them both as a confusion species locally at the moment.
Tiger
Shrike: Even if for the
greyish crown and nape, which resembles a male lucionensis, the male
Tiger Shrike can be distinguished by barred brown wings. Female shrikes
are similar to males with much brownish and less grey on the crown and nape.
Lores are whitish. Some comes with short buff eyebrows. Underparts are
buff-white with strong barring on the belly and flank. Juveniles are
paler with heavy barring on the brown tinged grey crown, wings, rumps, face and
underparts. It lacks the eye-stripe too.
Behavior:
Most
solitary in nature, except know to migrate with 2 to 3 birds together.
Available in Malaysia between September and May. Very territorial with a small
feeding territory. Calls are heard even as early as 6.30am and up to 7.30pm
from their roosting point. Hunts from a vantage point, can be just a meter away
from the ground or as high as 5 meters. The shrike lunges on its prey to the
ground and goes back to its perch. Such lunging act may had given its Malay
name as “tirjup” which could have been derived from the word “terjun”, which
literally describe that lunging act. Never seen hawking or gleaning for prey.
Its preys on insects, invertebrates and small vertebrates such as small frogs,
lizards, even smaller birds. It has been mentioned that preys are impaled and
teared before consuming. This behavior had given the shrikes another name as the
“butcher bird”. It gives out a series of loud, harsh calls, which often longer
in first 4 to 5 tones and gets shorter as it ends. It also gives a low volume
series of chirping calls while waiting for the prey from its perch.
Habitat:
Forest
edges, cleared lands, orchards, open grasslands with scattered shrubs and
trees, parks and cultivated lands. Often seen perching on fences and
utility cables.
Breeding:
Breeding is much later in high altitude breeding regions. Usually between June – August. Due to lack of obvious sexual dimorphism, mate attraction seems to be on “trial and error” base, where it is possible for unmated males to court each other and other shrike (which may be the reason for the occurrence of hybrids). Males will be on flight displays and land next to its potential mate, with bills erected upwards, turning the head side to side. If its mate performs the same display, it is a male shrike. Nesting site is selected by the males, build by both male and female. The cup shaped nest is made with grass stems, mosses, small twigs, feathers and roots. Usually 4 to 6 eggs (yellowish brown with brown spots) are laid, incubated for 15days. Nestlings will fledge in 2 weeks.
References:
1. Craig Robson, 2017, A Field Guide To The Birds of South East Asia, Bloomsbury, London.
2. Tim Worflok, 2002, Identification of Red Backed, Isabelline and Brown Shrikes, Vol 2, Dutch Birding.
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| A male L. c. cristatus, with a bright crown and a well defined supercilium. Location: Selangor |
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| A female L. c. cristatus, which reddish crown and barred underparts and malar area. Location: Selangor |
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| A first winter juvenile of L. c. cristatus, with barred, reddish crown, barred wing coverts and underparts. Bill is heavier and hooked. Location: Selangor |
 |
| A male L. c. confusus, with a broad white forehead (not well demarcated from the crown, and tinged with grey), supercilium is broader above the eye, and the upperpart plumage is homogenously brown. Location: Selangor. |
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| A female L. c. cristatus with pale lore, dark brown ear coverts, redder crown and rump, and barred flank and malar area. Location: Selangor. |
 |
| A first winter L. c. cristatus, with barred reddish brown crown, and barred underparts. Location: Selangor |
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