Grey-backed Shrike Lanius tephronotus is a medium-sized shrike. Distinguished from Long-tailed ShrikeL. schach by grey upperparts (rufous in upperparts confined to uppertail coverts) and small or absent white patch on primaries. Burmese ShrikeL. collurioides has chestnut mantle. Sexes similar. Photo: adult tephronotus, near Jiuzhaigou (33.247827, 103.757519), Sichuan, China, elev. 2660 m (8,730 ft.), August. (Craig Brelsford)Grey-backed Shrike breeds Himalayas and western and central China. In China, nominate breeds Gansu and Ningxia to Sichuan, Qinghai, Tibet, and Guizhou. Breeds and winters Yunnan; also winters Southeast Asia. Race lahulensis breeds western Tibet. Photo: Adult tephronotus, Mt. Mengbi, Sichuan, July. (Craig Brelsford)First-winter tephronotus shows incomplete black mask. Barring still faintly visible on flanks. Near Ruili, Yunnan, China, February. (Craig Brelsford)
MacKinnon, John. Guide to the Birds of China. Oxford University Press, 2022.
Reino, Luis and Joana Santana. Species account for Grey-backed Shrike in family Laniidae (Shrikes). P. 782 in del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Christie, D.A. eds. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 13. Penduline-tits to Shrikes. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain, 2008.
