Masked Shrike

Lanius nubicus Lichtenstein, MHC, 1823

Masked Shrike, Lanius nubicus, is a shrike of open woodland with bushes and some large trees in southeastern Europe, the eastern Mediterranean, and parts of western Asia, with winter quarters in central and north-east Africa. It is the smallest bird in its genus and has a long tail and a hooked bill. The male shows black upperparts with white on the crown, forehead and eyebrow, plus bold white wing and shoulder patches. The female is plainer, while the juvenile is barred and brownish.

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Laniidae — Shrikes

Breeding range

Palearctic: e Greece and Bulgaria through s Turkey to Israel and Iran

Nonbreeding range

c, ne AF