Subject: Interesting Shrike at Mai Po [Print This Page] Author: fneil Time: 11/12/2006 07:06 Subject: Interesting Shrike at Mai Po
I had special dispensation to visit Mai Po on a Saturday and the afternoon turned out to be one of the best of the year. This shrike turned up in the mid-afternoon and I assumed Dusky Shrike but I haven't seen one with this coloration before. Is it a Dusky? Neil.
Mai Po Nature Reserve,
Hong Kong,China
09/12/06
Nikon 8400 plus Swarovski STS80HD scope and Sw 30x eyepiece and DCA adapter.
This is a hybrid between a 'typical' long-tailed shrike and the 'dusky' morph of long-tailed shrike.
Most birds resemble one form or the other and it seems to be unusual to get a bird like this that clearly shows intermediate characteristics. Author: lmichael Time: 11/12/2006 17:14
I think that this individual is just a normal morph LT Shrike that has become contaminated by oil or something similar - look at state of tail, matted undertail coverts and vent and state of flight feathers.
That said, whilst most individuals are either normal or melanistic (Dusky) I have seen intermediate birds on many occasions.
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