Home › Aves › Laniidae › Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach)
SPECIES PROFILE
Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach)
Lanius
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Aves
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Indian subcontinent southeast Asia
DIET
Omnivorous
HABITAT
Open scrub grasslands urban edges
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Aves
ORDER
Passeriformes
FAMILY
Laniidae
GENUS
Lanius
📋 Description
SIZE
24-26 cm long 50-70 g
COLORATION
Grey back black mask rufous flanks white throat long black tail
ADAPTATIONS
Perches conspicuously impales prey on thorns
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Open scrub grasslands urban edges
DIET
Omnivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Indian subcontinent southeast Asia
REPRODUCTION
Lays 3-6 eggs in thorny nests incubated 14-16 days
DIET DETAILS
Insects small vertebrates fruits
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Habitat loss pesticide use
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Butcher Birds: Long-tailed Shrikes hunt with 60-gram bodies impaling 15 grams of insects daily in Haryana's scrub. Their black masks are bold.
2
Thorn Larders: These shrikes cover 3000 sq km in Maharashtra's grasslands storing prey on thorns. Pesticides threaten their food.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Bhigwan Bird Sanctuary in Maharashtra
Sultanpur National Park in Haryana
Jorbeer Conservation Reserve in Rajasthan
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
October-March Dry season enhances visibility in scrub for spotting shrikes
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Spot long-tailed shrikes perched on wires or thorns
