Long-tailed Shrike

The long-tailed shrike, or rufous-backed shrike, is widely distributed across Asia, with variation in plumage across its range. Despite the differences between the nine subspecies, all have a long, narrow black tail, a black mask and forehead, a rufous rump and flanks and a small white patch on the shoulder. The subspecies caniceps is listed for west, central and south India and Sri Lanka (Wikipedia, general species account).

It forms a superspecies with the grey-backed shrike of the Tibetan Plateau. The species name imitates its call, and the genus name is Latin for butcher. Nationally Vulnerable (Sri Lanka National Red List 2012).