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Monday, 7 September 2015

Isabelline shrike - Lanius isabellinus (Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1833) - Ξανθοκεφαλάς - Cyprus


The isabelline shrike or Daurian shrike (Lanius isabellinus) is a member of the shrike family (Laniidae). It was previously considered conspecific with the red-backed shrike and red-tailed shrike.
This migratory medium-sized passerine eats large insects, small birds, rodents and lizards. Like other shrikes it hunts from prominent perches, and impales corpses on thorns or barbed wire as a larder. It breeds in open cultivated country, preferably with thorn bushes.
The plumage is isabelline, the sandy colour which gives rise to its name. It has a red tail. Young birds can be distinguished from young red-backed shrikes by the much sparser vermiculations on the underparts.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos and video Meneou , 7/9/2015 by George Konstantinou






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