Long tailed Shrike

Description:

Long tailed shrike shot at Kanthalloor, Munnar. Fearless and aggressive, these small birds of prey are called butcher birds because they often impale bigger prey like lizards and mice on thorns on bushes or even barbed wire hooks before tearing them apart into smaller chunks for feeding. They prey on small insects, snakes, lizards, mice and occasionally even small birds. They have been known to take fish from streams. Length about 28 cm including the long tail.

Habitat:

Edge of forests near cultivated fields.