Description:

A comparatively small shrike with relatively long and graduated tail. Adult has black forehead and mask contrasting with pale grey crown and nape, deep maroon mantle, whitish rump and white patch at base of primaries. Juvenile very similar to Long-tailed and first-year like washed-out version of adult.

Distribution:

Uncommon summer visitor to south-western border areas of Diamer and Ghizer districts. Preferred habitat variety of open areas mainly between dry semi-desert and more wooded/watered areas, dry bushy areas with scattered trees, also cultivated areas up to 2500m.

Behavior:

Conspicuous and relatively tame. Typical shrike hunting behaviour: watches from exposed perch, preferably bush or electric wire above ground, diving down to catch food on ground. Almost exclusively feeds on insects, mainly beetles, also flies, lizards and occasionally mice. Nestling birds have also been observed as prey.

Photo Gallery:

Range & Occurrence:

Resident Species

Summer Breeder

Winter Visitor

Passage Migrant

Distribution Map of Bay-backed Shrike in Gilgit-Baltistan (Status: )

Seasonal Occurrence of Bay-backed Shrike

Resources:

Birds of Pakistan: Helm Field Guides (R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
The Birds of Pakistan (T. J. Roberts)
Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (C. Inskipp, R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide (P. Rasmussen & J. Anderton)
Birds of India: Collins Field Guide (N. Arlott)
Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (S. Ali & S. D. Ripley)
Handbook of the Birds of the World (https://www.hbw.com)
The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th Edition
iNaturalist BoGB (inaturalist.org/projects/birds-of-gilgit-baltistan)
Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan (http://fb.me/birdsgb)

*Gallery images on this page are shared from flickr.com, and are copyrighted to their respective creators or owners.