Birds | Laniidae
Lanius cristatus

Characteristics

The brown shrike’s upper mandible is sharp on the tip and is down-curved. When the bird rests, its tail feathers habitually rotate in circles. These birds are strong territory-holders. They produce fierce “chack, chack” calls.
Habits: The brown shrike prefers to stand on protruding branches, waiting to catch prey, such as grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, and other insects, as well as frogs and lizards. This earns it the title of “small raptor” in Taiwan.
Winter/Common, Transit/Common; Body length: 20 cm
Birdwatching period: August-April

Source(s):

• (圖書) 吳自強、黃淑華、羅美玉，高美濕地飛羽，台中，2014。