SE Asian shrike ID

[SimonGillings]

On a recent trip to Myanmar (Jan 2010) Nigel Clark, Rob Robinson and I saw this adult shrike spp at Moulmein (northern Tenasserim), photo by Rob. Structurally similar to a Brown Shrike, though perhaps slightly shorter tailed, but the striking feature is the grey head with thin white supercilium. It is possibly an adult Brown Shrike of lucionensis race but that would seem a long way out of range. Of several hundred brown shrikes seen, none had this grey headed appearance.

Can anyone with more experience comment?

thanks

Simon Gillings

[Steve Moon]

Could it be Grey-backed Shrike Lanius tephronotus?

[forktail]

Hi Simon

It's not a million miles away from some immature/near adult Burmese Shrikes Although some thing aren't quite right and I expect you discounted this option quickly.

http://orientalbirdimages.org/search.php?p=2&action=searchresult&Bird_ID=2403&Bird_Family_ID=&pagesize=1

and here's a Grey-backed for comparison

http://orientalbirdimages.org/search.php?p=17&action=searchresult&Bird_ID=2404&Bird_Family_ID=&pagesize=1

and a lucionensis
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3009/3635047806_967e442fb9_o.jpg

The mantle appears quite chestnut-toned though (?) but I'm finding it tricky to determine colours on my laptop and that may be inaccurate. The wings look rather long and there's no sign of a primary patch. You may be right. Best wishes Simon.

P.S. Is it out of range for lucionensis? They are certainly listed for Burma/Myanmar in a few sources.

Tim

[borealis]

If you lighten the image a little - see attached pic, you can see a contrast between the greyish head and the brown mantle. Together with structure - large head, not overly long tail - I'm confident that this is a lucionensis Brown Shrike.

Tim Worfolk

[Paul Bourdin]

I couldn't disagree with the lucionensis diagnosis, but as far as range goes, I've seen them as far west as Sri Lanka (World's End).

Just checked the date, it was 24 Jan 2001.

Some pictures of lucionensis shrikes taken in The Philippines over the last year or so (http://birdingmakiling.blogspot.com/2010/02/brown-shrikes.html)

[gandytron]

On a recent trip to Myanmar (Jan 2010) Nigel Clark, Rob Robinson and I saw this adult shrike spp at Moulmein (northern Tenasserim), photo by Rob. Structurally similar to a Brown Shrike, though perhaps slightly shorter tailed, but the striking feature is the grey head with thin white supercilium. It is possibly an adult Brown Shrike of lucionensis race but that would seem a long way out of range. Of several hundred brown shrikes seen, none had this grey headed appearance.

Can anyone with more experience comment?

thanks

Simon Gillings

Simon,

Here (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pFJV0-EXKT4/Swa1E0PehvI/AAAAAAAAAhU/bKa144PBPpk/s1600/DSC_0147v2.jpg)'s a lucionensis from my local patch in Bangkok taken in Nov 09. Looks pretty similar to your bird I think.

Best wishes

Dave

[SimonGillings]

thanks all - lucionensis Brown Shrike seems to be the best bet. My comment on range was based on the maps in Lefranc & Worfolk.

Now to find out what could have made a noise like a poorwill in central Yangon.....

cheers

Simon