Description:

A rather large shrike with medium-length tail, colored white, grey and black. Lacks of black on forehead and a more restricted dark mask; has a paler grey mantle, generally a horn-coloured bill, and often shows a pink wash on breast. White of scapulars, wing and tail conspicuous in flight.

Distribution:

Uncommon passage migrant through central and western Gilgit-Baltistan, rare in Baltistan and Astore. Generally found in open country and steppe with thorn scrub, light woodland, bushes, cultivated areas, gardens and plantations, up to 3500m.

Behavior:

Usually forages and perches alone, or partners feed in close proximity to each other. Uses sit-and-wait technique. Utilizes variety of lookout perches, including wires, fence lines, tree branches; dives down onto prey on ground. Highly opportunistic and flexible in use of different food spectra, as well as in hunting tactics. Diet consists mainly of small vertebrates and large arthropods.

Photo Gallery:

Range & Occurrence:

Resident Species

Summer Breeder

Winter Visitor

Passage Migrant

Distribution Map of Steppe Grey Shrike in Gilgit-Baltistan (Status: )

Seasonal Occurrence of Steppe Grey 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.