Southern Grey Shrike, Lanius meridionalis

Southern Grey Shrike

Lanius meridionalis

29 December 2010

Possible regional races (polytypic), extralimital races are greyed out

L. m. theresae Meinertzhagen 1953
L. m. jebelmarrae Lynes 1923
L. m. buryi Lorenz von Liburnau, L & Hellmayr 1901
L. m. koenigi Hartert 1901
L. m. uncinatus Sclater, PL & Hartlaub 1881
L. m. aucheri Bonaparte 1853
L. m. algeriensis Lesson 1839
L. m. leucopygos Hemprich & Ehrenberg 1833
L. m. elegans Swainson 1832
L. m. lahtora (Sykes) 1832
L. m. meridionalis Temminck 1820

Lanius pallidirostris Cassin 1851 (Few authors choose L. m. pallidirostris)

Notes:

Pls use the mousewheel to
zoom in/out (Max 2X)

Southern Grey Shrike, Lanius meridionalis lahtora

Distributed all over India except NE and extreme south

Is common in the plains, but does not occur on the hills. I saw one of these Shrikes once catch a small field mouse and impale him on the thorn of a euphorbia underparts uppermost. Shortly afterwards I visited the place and found the eyes and half of the body eaten, the remainder being left, I suppose, for another meal (EA Butler-1875).

References:
Baker, E.C.S. (1924): Fauna of British India: Birds (Second Edition), v.2, p.285. Published under the authority of the Secretary of State for India in Council
Oates, EW. (1889): The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Birds v.1, p.459. Edited by W.T. Blanford. Published under the authority of the Secretary of State for India in Council

About/Terms of use etc. in the home page