From Opus

Photo by Shantilal Varu
Kutch, Gujarat, India
April, 2011

Tephrodornis pondicerianus

[edit] Identification

16-18cm

• Mid brown upperparts and wings
• White underparts
• Dark brown patch behind eye
• White stripe above eye
• Dark brown tail
• Yellowish-brown iris
• Grey legs and bill

[edit] Distribution

Pakistan to south-east Asia

[edit] Taxonomy

Three subspecies are recognized:^[1]

• T. p. pallidus

• Pakistan and north-western India

• T. p. pondicerianus

• Eastern India to Myanmar, northern Thailand and southern Laos

• T. p. orientis

• Cambodia and southern Vietnam

Sri Lanka Woodshrike T. p. affinis has been split from this species.^[1][2]

[edit] Habitat

Hedgerows, gardens and groves.

[edit] Behaviour

Arboreal.

[edit] Diet

They feed on insects in the upper branches and canopy.

[edit] Breeding

The nest is cup shaped, made from grass and bark, bound with spider's webs and lined with hair and wool. The clutch consists of 2-3 cream, yellow or reddish brown spotted eggs.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
2. Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2010. IOC World Bird Names (version 2.7). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
3. Whistler, H. 1949. Popular Handbook of Indian Birds.

• List of references

[edit] External Links