Shrike - Japan (2 Viewers)

[misikuru]

Is this shrike a bull-headed shrike or brown shrike? Photo taken today in a marsh land in Niigata prefecture, Japan.

I thought it might be a brown shrike as it has pale flanks and pink bill with black tip, also it seems to me that it's a bit too pale for a bull-headed (comparing with photos on ebirds). But it has a greyish shade on the back and I don't see white supercilium, so I can't decide.

 

[Oregon John]

I would think a juvenile brown shrike rather than bull-headed.

 

[misikuru]

I would think a juvenile brown shrike rather than bull-headed.

Thank you, John! For the future birding can you tell me which feature makes you think so?

 

[Grahame Walbridge]

Its a very worn adult (fem?) Bull-headed, combination of grey mantle and uppertail, reduced mask and supercilium + diminutive build confirm. Resident form of Brown (superciliosis) has much warmer, uniform rufous-brown upperparts (including tail), a more extensive mask, obvious white supercilium + heavier build including, in particular, head and bill.

Grahame

 

[Kandahar]

I agree with Grahame - Bull headed shrikes can vary quite surprisingly but the grey back is generally diagnostic.

 

[misikuru]

Thank you Grahame and Kandahar! That's was very informative!