Common Woodshrike

The common woodshrike is small and ashy brown, and is now usually placed in the family Vangidae. Like other woodshrikes it has a large head with a strong hooked bill, a broad creamy brow above a dark cheek patch, and white outer tail feathers contrasting with the dark tail. Young birds have streaks and spots on the crown and white spots on the mantle, with a streaked underside and heavily marked breast (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is found across Asia mainly in thin forest and scrub, hunting insects and often joining other insectivorous birds. Usually found in pairs, it has a loud whistling song of several notes. Three eggs are the usual clutch, and both parents incubate, though it is thought only the female feeds the young. SoIB 2023 rates it a Moderate conservation priority, a resident of forest and plantation with a Very Large range of about 1.43 million km², a rapid long-term decline of about 59% and a stable current trend (Wikipedia, general species account; SoIB 2023).