Dutch Birding volume 37 (2015) no 4

Brown Shrike at Azewijnsche Broek in January-May 2014

From 18 January to 8 May 2014, a first-year Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus was present at Azewijnsche Broek, Gelderland, the Netherlands. Based on the subtle dark scaly markings on uppertail-coverts, scapulars and mantle, it was a first-year. Based on structural characters, first-year Red-backed Shrike L collurio could be excluded by the relatively large head, heavy bill, long and clearly graduated tail and short primary projection. Furthermore, it differed from Red-backed by the chestnut-brown rump and dark tertial centres. Additionally, first-year Red-backed shows more prominent scaly markings on the upperparts and always a more greyish neck. The combination of uniform chestnut-brown cap, long, graduated, red-brown tail and lack of obvious white primary patch (base of primaries) excluded other similar species such as Red-tailed Shrike L phoenicuroides and Daurian Shrike L isabellinus. These 'isabelline shrikes' have a longer but less graduated tail; in addition, Daurian is paler and more sandy on upperhead and upperparts and has warmer underparts, and Red-tailed has a more cold grey-brown upperhead and upperparts and less scaly underparts. The red-brown colour of the upperhead, as warm as or warmer than the upperparts, indicated the nominate subspecies L c cristatus. Brown Shrike breeds in eastern Asia. This was the first record for the Netherlands. In Europe, there are now 30 records, of which only a few in winter (table 1).

Wim Gerritsen, Beethovenlaan 4, 7075 BE Etten, Nederland
(car.gerritsenplanet.nl)
Erik A W Ernens, Brouwersveld 8A, 7031 DB Wehl, Nederland
(erik.ernensgmail.com)
Roel Schwartz, Marktstraat 21B, 7064 AW Silvolde, Nederland
(roelschwartzgmail.com)