cbryan

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.

lpaul

Looks like a first-winter Brown Shrike (nominate race)to me.

cbryan

thanks Paul.  but is it the barring to its cap suggesting it being a brown shrike instead?

ajohn

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 http://orientalbirdimages.org/se ... _ID=&pagesize=1), male should have a black mask but rufous crown and grey mantle (see http://orientalbirdimages.org/se ... _ID=&pagesize=1). Bull-headed also usually has a white patch in the wing.

cbryan

thanks john for such a detail explanation.

bryan