Isabelline Shrike

The Isabelline Shrike (Lanius isabellinus) is part of a closely-related group of species, including the Great Grey Shrike (L. Collurio), the Chinese Grey Shrike (L. Arenarius) and the Turkestan Shrike, or Red-tailed Grey Shrike (L. Phoenicuroides). Up until recently, Isabellinus, Phoenicuroides and Arenarius were grouped under a single specific taxon, L. Isabellinus, with each being considered a subspecies of Isabellinus. Now, the systematics have divided them up. But distinguishing between these species is not always easy, especially from photos, as they are so similar, except for adult males, which are generally quite distinct.
This information relates to the Isabelline Shrike strictu sensu, L. Isabellinus. Its size and aspect are similar to the Great Grey Shrike.
The adult male has a pale sandy beige colour to the upper parts, from the head to the tail, usually with a slightly warmer hue on the head and rump. The lower back, uppertail coverts and tail are reddish brown, like a Redstart. The wings are dark brown, with pale beige edgings to the flight feathers and coverts, more or less visible depending on the state of the plumage. The white base to the primaries forms a white patch in the middle of the wing, behind the primary coverts. A black band including the dark and sharply contrasting eye is visible across the side of the head. It is outlined with a rather faint or indistinct pale eyebrow. The beak is black. The undersides are creamy-russet, with the flanks clearly washed with red. The legs are dark brown.
The female adult looks similar to the male, but the colours are less sharply defined and there is less contrast in the plumage. For example, the eye band is brown rather than black, and is less well-defined. The base of the beak is pinkish. The white patch to the primaries is less conspicuous, and sometimes imperceptible.The legs are a lighter brown. Finally, one can perceive some discreet dark edgings on the covert feathers of the chest and flanks breaking the uniformity of the ventral plumage.
The juvenile is easily distinguished from the adults by its scaly or vermiculated appearance of its plumage, top and bottom, the plumage itself being warmer than that of the adult. The pattern of the wing coverts with a bicolour edging, brown and cream, is particularly remarkable. The tail is russet, terminated in a brown-black. The bill is widely pink at its base. The immature first winter has reminders of this plumage. The immatures of the three taxa, isabellinus, phoenicuroides and arenarius, are very similar and difficult to distinguish from one another.