The Burmese shrike is a species of bird in the family Laniidae. It is found in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, and Vietnam. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.
Region
Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Occurs from eastern India and Bangladesh through Myanmar to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and south China. It occupies forest edges, open woodland, secondary growth, scrub, and agricultural mosaics with scattered trees. The species also uses parks, orchards, and roadside thickets where perches are available. It favors ecotones between dense cover and open foraging ground and tolerates a moderate level of human disturbance.
Altitude Range
0–1800 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Shrikes are often called 'butcher birds' for their habit of impaling prey on thorns or barbed wire to store food. The Burmese shrike favors prominent perches from which it scans for insects and small vertebrates. It readily uses lightly wooded edges and human-altered habitats like orchards and field margins. Its clear mask and rich rufous mantle make it one of the more striking shrikes in mainland Southeast Asia.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with direct, purposeful flight
Social Behavior
Usually seen alone or in pairs, often perched conspicuously on wires or exposed branches. Pairs defend territories during the breeding season and build a cup-shaped nest in shrubs or small trees. Both parents participate in feeding the young, and adults frequently use habitual perches for hunting.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
A varied series of clear whistles, chatters, and rattles, often interspersed with harsh scolding notes. Capable of mimicry, weaving borrowed phrases into a loose, melodious sequence.
Plumage
Clean gray crown and nape with a bold black facial mask, rich rufous mantle and flanks, white underparts, and a blackish tail with white outer tail feathers. Wings are dark with a noticeable white patch visible in flight. Overall crisp, well-contrasted pattern typical of shrikes.
Diet
Primarily consumes large insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, and crickets. Will also take spiders and occasionally small lizards, frogs, or small birds when available. Often impales prey on thorns to cache food or assist in tearing it apart.
Preferred Environment
Forages from exposed perches along forest edges, hedgerows, scrub, and farmland. Hunts by sallying to the ground or making short flights to snatch prey from foliage, returning to its perch to consume the catch.
