Brown Shrike – immature birds

posted in: birds, Morphology-Develop. | 0

Some of the immature Brown Shrikes (Lanius cristatus) I saw yesterday.

One key distinguishing feature, pointed out to me by a colleague, that supports immature birds from adult females is the scaling on the crown – seen in all birds. Suspect it’s the best feature for differentiation.

Also note only tip of beak is black, rest pale ivory-blue. Underpart barring intense. Variable eye strip (ear coverts & lores) colour and intensity.

Note the supercilium in most birds runs behind the eye; the exception being the bird second from the top where it extends anteriorly.

 

Amar-Singh HSS (Dato’ Dr) – Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Habitat: Urban Gardens

Date: 12th October 2018

Equipment: Nikon D500 SLR with Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD, handheld

 

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Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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