Gulls and Shrikes Pakistan (1 Viewer)

The Shrikes were photographed in early September 2016 in Multan - the photos are not the best but which species are they? Photographer thinks Red-Tailed/Turkestan but I am not convinced. Could both be different birds too.


The Gull photos are off 1 bird and quite a stunner. Looks a tad different to the usual Steppe forwarded to me but I assume it will be that? Taken in Karachi last week.


Thanks in advance!

Any opinions ?

Sorry, I've been meaning to comment on these but it slipped my mind until today.

If both Shrike images show the same individual, which I think they do, it's surely too rufous brown and heavily barred on the upperparts and rump for Turkestan. It's not Brown either, as the primary projection is too long and the tail not graduated. It looks most like one of those tiger-striped juvenile Red-backed. I guess given the location some kind of hybrid can't be ruled out.

The gull does look like heuglini - very mean-looking with an angular head and streaking on the nape, and the bill shape looks right. I'm no expert on large gulls though.

i also have the impression the shrike is a red-backed but can't really prove it apart from ground colour and extensive barring. most of the gulls are steppe gulls but there is at least one which looks very good for a 1cy heuglini, the partly hidden rightmost individual in pic 3. maybe also the flying bird in pic 4.

lou salomon said:

i also have the impression the shrike is a red-backed but can't really prove it apart from ground colour and extensive barring. most of the gulls are steppe gulls but there is at least one which looks very good for a 1cy heuglini, the partly hidden rightmost individual in pic 3. maybe also the flying bird in pic 4.

Click to expand...

Not the subadult at the front of the 1st photo?

could also be, but it looks a bit too pale mantled for the normal heuglini.