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Lanius vittatus

Lanius vittatus (*)

Cladus: Eukaryota
Supergroup: Opisthokonta
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Classis: Aves
Subclassis: Carinatae
Infraclassis: Neornithes
Parvclassis: Neognathae
Ordo: Passeriformes
Subordo: Passeri
Parvordo: Corvida
Superfamilia: Corvoidea
Familia: Laniidae
Genus: Lanius
Species: Lanius vittatus
Subspecies: L. v. nargianus - L. v. vittatus

Name

Lanius vittatus Valenciennes, 1826

Reference

Dictionnaire des Sciences naturelles 40 p.227

The Bay-backed Shrike, Lanius vittatus, is a member of the bird family Laniidae, the shrikes, resident in South Asia.


Description


It is smallish shrike at 17 cm, maroon-brown above with a pale rump and long black tail with white edges. The underparts are white, but with buff flanks.[2] The crown and nape are grey, with a typical shrike black bandit mask through the eye. There is a small white wing patch, and the bill and legs are dark grey.[2]

Sexes are similar, but young birds are washed-out versions of the adults.[2]

Habits and habitat

Bay-backed Shrike has a characteristic upright "shrike" attitude perched on a bush, from which it sallies after lizards, large insects, small birds and rodents.[2]

Prey may be impaled upon a sharp point, such as a thorn. Thus secured they can be ripped with the strong hooked bill, but its feet are not suited for tearing.[2]

It is a widespread resident breeder in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, and has recently been recorded from Sri Lanka. It nests in bushes in scrubby areas and cultivation, laying 3-5 eggs.[1]


References

1. ^ a b Compilers: Stuart Butchart, Jonathan Ekstrom (2008). "Bay-backed Shrike - BirdLife Species Factsheet". Evaluators: Jeremy Bird, Stuart Butchart BirdLife International . http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=5532&m=0. Retrieved June 2, 2009.
2. ^ a b c d e Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp. Birds of India.


External links

* BirdLife International (2009). Lanius vittatus. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 02 June 2009. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of Least Concern

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