Himalayan and Kashmiri Birds 



ShrikeSy or Butcher Birds 



Shrikes form a well-marked family of birds. 

 When perched, they sit upright with the tail 

 pointing downwards. Their habit is to sit 

 exposed on a perch and from there pounce 

 on some insect on the ground. Many species 

 have a broad black band running backwards 

 from the beak through the eye. 



Shrikes are common birds in the plains, 

 but do not ascend the Himalayas to any great 

 altitude, they are therefore rarely seen at 

 any hill station. One species, however, is 

 very abundant in the Kashmir valley. 



55. Lanius erythronotus : The Rufous-backed 

 Shrike. F.476,J. 257, -III. E. W. K. 



Head, neck and upper back pale grey, with 

 a broad black band running across the forehead 

 and through the eyes. Shoulders and lower back 

 rusty red. Chin, throat and upper breast white. 

 Wings and tail black, some of the feathers 

 having reddish edges. White wing-bar. 



Very common in the Kashmir valley. Dozens 

 may be seen on the journey from Baramula to 

 Srinagar. They perch in the poplars. It 

 breeds as high as 6000 feet near Simla. Jones 

 says it is a dupe of the cuckoo. In most parts 



