Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China (mainland) (B), Hong Kong (China), India, Indonesia, Japan (B), Kazakhstan (B), Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia (B), Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea (B), Philippines, Russia (Asian) (B), Russia (Central Asian) (B), Singapore, South Korea (B), Sri Lanka, Taiwan (China), Thailand, USA, Vietnam.
Vagrant to Bhutan, Christmas Island, Denmark, Maldives, Palau, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom.
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) [XC837100]
by sunandav.psycounsellor@gmail.com from Donkoi, Vientiane Prefecture, Laos (call)
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) [XC574738]
by Sunny Tseng from Jiji Township, India (alarm call)
Breeding Season (Guide)
Does not breed in Australia.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Subspecies
Thought to form a superspecies with Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) and Isabelline Shrike (Lanius isabellinus). Has been considered conspecific with one or both. Occasional hybridization with Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) recorded in central Asia. Geographical variation partially clinal. Subspecies confusus poorly differentiated, intergrades with nominate and perhaps better merged with it.
The following 4 subspecies are recognised:
cristatus Linnaeus, 1758 - Breeds central and eastern Siberia south to northern Mongolia, L Baikal area, northern Sakhalin and western Kamchatka. Non-breeding central and southern India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar (mainly coast) and Malay Peninsula.
confusus Stegmann, 1929 - Breeds eastern Mongolia, south-eastern Russia (south-eastern Transbaikalia eastern to Amurland and Ussuriland) and Manchuria. Non-breeding southern Malay Peninsula and Sumatra.
superciliosus Latham, 1801 - Breeds southern Sakhalin I, southern Kuril Is and northern and central Japan (Hokkaido, northern and central Honshu). Non-breeding mainly coastal southern China, Hainan, north-eastern and eastern Indochina, Sumatra, Java and western Lesser Sundas.
lucionensis Linnaeus, 1766 - Breeds eastern China, Korea and southern Japan (Kyushu). Non-breeding mainly coastal south-eastern China, Taiwan, Philippines, northern Borneo and northern Sulawesi.
Similar Species
Tiger Shrike (Lanius tigrinus) which has a shorter tail and larger bill, has barring on the upperparts.
References
See References.
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9
BirdLife International Species Factsheet