Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach)

OTHER NAMES: Rufous-backed Shrike
Latin Etymology: Lanius ("to tear to pieces") schach (onomatopoeic based on call)

Adult Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach) at Oxfordshire, UK - July 2026

Featured Subspecies: Unknown, though erysthronotus would seem most likely
Weight: 33-52g  /  Length: 20-25cm  /  Wingspan: 30-35cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A widespread resident of Southern and Central Asia, although not present in much of mainland South East Asia or Borneo.  They are a fairly visually diverse species with some species having a typical shrike "bandit mask" while some subspecies have much more vivid colours and the black extends into more towards being a full "cap". This bird on the Gloucestershire/Oxfordshire border is only the third ever reported in the UK, thought fascinatingly the second arrived just a week prior and their stays overlapped, a bizarre coincidence for such a rare species!
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Laniidae
Genus: Lanius

SUBSPECIES: L. s. erythronotus, L. s. caniceps, L. s. tricolor, L. s. schach, L. s. longicaudatus, L. s. bentet, L. s. nasutus, L. s. suluensis, L. s. stresemanni 

 
- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - An extremely rare vagrant.

A vagrant bird seen on the Gloucestershire/Oxfordshire border is only the third ever UK record of this species, one being here at the same time

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto