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What type of Shrike in Yunnan, China, December? (1 Viewer)

beijingbabbler

Well-known member
United States
I'm not entirely sure if this is a Burmese shrike or a Long tailed shrike ssp. Tricolor (the expected one here, the one with a dark cap). It seems like Long tailed would have a fully dark cap while this bird has a gray crown but it also has orange flanks and its tail is pretty long I think. Thanks in advance!
 

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I feel it's Long-tailed. The colour on the back is not deep enough for Burmese I think. Subspecies schach is also found in many parts of Yunnan which might explain the grey crown (though it does seem that tricolor is more common in some parts such as the south).
 
I find this a slightly confusing bird. I agree that the mantle colour seems too pale for Burmese and the grey seems too extensive, plus the orange flanks and long tail point that way.

But the head pattern is wrong for schach Long-tailed - the mask is poorly defined and much too broad behind the eye. I wonder if it could be an intergrade between schach and tricolor? There are a few photos from Yunnan on eBird showing a dark grey crown rather than pure black:
 

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