Rank Species | Family Laniidae Scientific name Lanius isabellinus Phylum Chordata Order Passerine | |
 | ||
Similar Bird, Shrike, Lanius, Masked shrike, Southern grey shrike | ||
Daurian shrike or isabelline shrike at pendeen uk wildlife in cornwall
The isabelline shrike or Daurian shrike (Lanius isabellinus) is a member of the shrike family (Laniidae). It was previously considered conspecific with the red-backed shrike and red-tailed shrike.
Contents
- Daurian shrike or isabelline shrike at pendeen uk wildlife in cornwall
- Isabelline shrike beeston common 12 10 2015
- Etymology
- Habits
- Description
- References
Isabelline shrike beeston common 12 10 2015
Etymology
The genus name, Lanius, is derived from the Latin word for "butcher", and some shrikes are also known as "butcher birds" because of their feeding habits. The common name is from the specific isabellinus, New Latin for "greyish-yellow" probably named for Isabella I of Castile, said to have promised not to change her undergarments until Spain was freed from the Moors. The common English name "shrike" is from Old English scrÃc, "shriek", referring to the shrill call.
Habits
This migratory medium-sized passerine eats large insects, small birds, rodents and lizards. Like other shrikes it hunts from prominent perches, and impales corpses on thorns or barbed wire as a larder. It breeds in open cultivated country, preferably with thorn bushes.
Description
The plumage is isabelline, the sandy colour which gives rise to its name. It has a red tail. Young birds can be distinguished from young red-backed shrikes by the much sparser vermiculations on the underparts.
