cbryan 14/12/2008 16:36
Bull headed shrike?
taken today at Pui O.
the clearest shot before it flown off. though this pic can't tell, i saw no rufous tail so i suppose that rules out brown shrike.
[img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3146/3106211939_a59239fe26_b.jpg[/img]
lpaul 14/12/2008 20:03
Looks like a first-winter Brown Shrike (nominate race)to me.
cbryan 15/12/2008 22:39
thanks Paul. but is it the barring to its cap suggesting it being a brown shrike instead?
ajohn 17/12/2008 10:57
Key features for this being a brown shrike are the colour of the upperparts (solid brown, lacking any contrast between the head and mantle), lack of rufous tones on the head and black mask.
Female/1st winter bull-headed should have a rufous mask and crown with slightly greyer mantle (see [url]http://orientalbirdimages.org/search.php?p=12&action=searchresult&Bird_ID=2412&Bird_Family_ID=&pagesize=1[/url]), male should have a black mask but rufous crown and grey mantle (see [url]http://orientalbirdimages.org/search.php?p=7&action=searchresult&Bird_ID=2412&Bird_Family_ID=&pagesize=1[/url]). Bull-headed also usually has a white patch in the wing.
cbryan 17/12/2008 23:35
thanks john for such a detail explanation.
bryan