No. 15 Shrikes
Note: Click on photo to enlarge image
The Shrike family comprises a small group of medium-sized songbirds, of which four are regularly seen in Cyprus. Their most characteristic feature is the distinctive strong bill that has a hooked tip. All species also have a distinct eye stripe, generally dark grey or black in colour. Most species have long tails and all have strong feet and claws.
Shrikes are commonly known as "butcher birds", so named from the tendency of some species (particularly the Red-backed Shrike) to store prey species (mostly beetles and large insects) on the thorns of shrubs and bushes.
Red-backed Shrike
Like all the Shrikes, this bird is a passage migrant through Cyprus, and this particular bird is much more commonly seen in Autumn than in Spring. It winters in Africa, migrating north mainly in May and returning south predominantly in August, September and early October. The species has suffered a steady and general decline through the twentieth Century, and became extinct as a British breeding bird by the end of the 1980s. However there are now sporadic sightings of pairs breeding in Scotland, Wales and even in Devon. Fortunately they are still quite commonly seen in Cyprus, so this is encouraging.
I occasionally see Red-backed Shrikes at Secret Valley, but more frequently at Anarita Park and at Ayia Varvara pools, where these photos were taken. The adult bird has a chestnut brown back and tail, a greyish-brown head in the female (pale grey in the male) with dark eye-stripe, and a buff-white breast that is strongly vermiculated on the female (see photo) and with a pink tinge in the male.
Woodchat Shrike
This beautiful black, white and brown shrike is very striking when seen in the field. It is a little larger than the Red-backed Shrike. It is readily identified by the rufous brown crown and nape, the heavy black eye-mask and forehead. The back and wings are black with white patches, while the front is almost pure buff-white. It is widely seen on Cyprus during the Spring migration (mostly between March and May) but less often during the Autumn southerly migration (which records show happens mostly in August). The juvenile is a more uniform greyish-brown with vermiculation markings extending from under the wings to the breast (also visible on the juvenile Masked Shrike).
Lesser Grey Shrike
This bird is predominantly light grey on the head and back, dark grey on the wings and tail, and white on the throat and beast. The adult has a very distinct peach/pink colouration of the breast. It is slightly larger than the Red-backed Shrike, and is mostly seen in lowland areas - particularly in fruit orchards. It is a commonly seen migrant in Cyprus in Autumn, less frequently seen during the Spring passage.
Masked Shrike
This is the smallest of the Shrike family, being slimmer than the Red-backed Shrike and with a slightly longer and narrower tail. The adult colouration is again mainly black, or dark grey, and white. The head has a dark cap, white face, and the typical narrow black eye-stripe. The white front, however, shows distinctly pale orange flanks, particularly in the male. The juvenile is paler grey and white with a clear vermiculation on the flanks, neck and top of the head.
Most Shrikes will perch in prominent locations on shrubs, bushes or high wires which makes spotting them rather easier than for many songbird species.
All photographs by Trevor Fordham.
The Shrike family comprises a small group of medium-sized songbirds, of which four are regularly seen in Cyprus. Their most characteristic feature is the distinctive strong bill that has a hooked tip. All species also have a distinct eye stripe, generally dark grey or black in colour. Most species have long tails and all have strong feet and claws.
Shrikes are commonly known as "butcher birds", so named from the tendency of some species (particularly the Red-backed Shrike) to store prey species (mostly beetles and large insects) on the thorns of shrubs and bushes.
Red-backed Shrike
Like all the Shrikes, this bird is a passage migrant through Cyprus, and this particular bird is much more commonly seen in Autumn than in Spring. It winters in Africa, migrating north mainly in May and returning south predominantly in August, September and early October. The species has suffered a steady and general decline through the twentieth Century, and became extinct as a British breeding bird by the end of the 1980s. However there are now sporadic sightings of pairs breeding in Scotland, Wales and even in Devon. Fortunately they are still quite commonly seen in Cyprus, so this is encouraging.
I occasionally see Red-backed Shrikes at Secret Valley, but more frequently at Anarita Park and at Ayia Varvara pools, where these photos were taken. The adult bird has a chestnut brown back and tail, a greyish-brown head in the female (pale grey in the male) with dark eye-stripe, and a buff-white breast that is strongly vermiculated on the female (see photo) and with a pink tinge in the male.
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Red-backed Shrike, adult female |
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Red-backed Shrike with just-caught lunch |
This beautiful black, white and brown shrike is very striking when seen in the field. It is a little larger than the Red-backed Shrike. It is readily identified by the rufous brown crown and nape, the heavy black eye-mask and forehead. The back and wings are black with white patches, while the front is almost pure buff-white. It is widely seen on Cyprus during the Spring migration (mostly between March and May) but less often during the Autumn southerly migration (which records show happens mostly in August). The juvenile is a more uniform greyish-brown with vermiculation markings extending from under the wings to the breast (also visible on the juvenile Masked Shrike).
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The striking colouration of the adult Woodchat Shrike |
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The effective contrast of black, white and rufous colouration of the Woodchat Shrike |
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Front view of the Woodchat Shrike |
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Juvenile Woodchat Shrike |
Lesser Grey Shrike
This bird is predominantly light grey on the head and back, dark grey on the wings and tail, and white on the throat and beast. The adult has a very distinct peach/pink colouration of the breast. It is slightly larger than the Red-backed Shrike, and is mostly seen in lowland areas - particularly in fruit orchards. It is a commonly seen migrant in Cyprus in Autumn, less frequently seen during the Spring passage.
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Lesser Grey Shrike |
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Lesser Grey Shrike often use telegraph sites as a lookout perch |
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The simple grey, black and white colouration of the Lesser Grey Shrike |
This is the smallest of the Shrike family, being slimmer than the Red-backed Shrike and with a slightly longer and narrower tail. The adult colouration is again mainly black, or dark grey, and white. The head has a dark cap, white face, and the typical narrow black eye-stripe. The white front, however, shows distinctly pale orange flanks, particularly in the male. The juvenile is paler grey and white with a clear vermiculation on the flanks, neck and top of the head.
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The adult Masked Shrike showing the pale orange colouration on the flanks |
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The juvenile Masked Shrike with clear vermiculation colouring |
All photographs by Trevor Fordham.
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