Chinese Grey Shrike - BirdForum Opus

Lanius sphenocercus

Chinese Grey Shrike
Photo by BIJ
Yeyahu Nature Reserve, Beijing, China, February 2009

Identification

• Pale grey cap and upper back
• Darker grey and white lower back and tail
• White underparts
• Black eye stripe

Distribution

Asia: found in Russia, Siberia, Mongolia, China, Tibet, North Korea and Taiwan.

Taxonomy

Tibetan Grey Shrike
Photo by James Eaton
Shaanxi, North China, May 2010

There are 2 subspecies:

• L. s. sphenocercus:

• Mountains of eastern Russia (Amur region) to north-eastern and central China

• L. s. giganteus:

• Mountains of eastern Tibet; winters to south-eastern China

Giganteus is sometimes known as Tibetan Grey Shrike.

Habitat

Wetlands, open fields and grassland, low scrub and tall grass margins of rice fields.

Behaviour

Photo by BIJ
Yeyahu Nature Reserve, Beijing, China, November 2008

Breeding

They build a large nest from twigs and grasses, placed in a tree. The clutch consists of 4-5 eggs which are incubated by the female for 16-17 days.

Diet

The diet includes small rodents and large insects.

References

1. Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
2. Avibase
3. Wikipedia
4. BirdsKorea
5. BF Member observations

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Chinese Grey Shrike. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 4 June 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Chinese_Grey_Shrike

External Links

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