Sighting of vagrant Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio in the coastal areas of Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, India

Authors

  • Kishore Muthu Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (South India Centre of Wildlife Institute of India), Anaikatty, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641108, India. https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2201-0282
  • Anand Shibu Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (South India Centre of Wildlife Institute of India), Anaikatty, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641108, India. https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9242-9881
  • Santhanakrishnan Babu Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (South India Centre of Wildlife Institute of India), Anaikatty, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641108, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4112-6331

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.10269.18.2.28436-28437

Keywords:

Aves, Laniidae, migratory bird, Passeriformes, range extension, shrikes, vagrant

Abstract

We report a sighting of the Red-backed Shrike, a vagrant to peninsular India, from the coastal habitats of Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) District, Tamil Nadu. This observation is the second photographic record of the species for the state.

Author Biographies

Kishore Muthu, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (South India Centre of Wildlife Institute of India), Anaikatty, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641108, India.

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Anand Shibu, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (South India Centre of Wildlife Institute of India), Anaikatty, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641108, India.

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Santhanakrishnan Babu, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (South India Centre of Wildlife Institute of India), Anaikatty, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641108, India.

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References

BirdLife International (2024). Species factsheet: Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio. https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/red-backed-shrike-lanius-collurio. Downloaded on 21.xi.2025

eBird (2025). An online database of bird distribution and abundance. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY. https://ebird.org. Accessed on 17.xi.2025.

Haemoglobin, D. (2023). eBird Checklist. https://ebird.org/checklist/S152479957. Accessed on 17.xi.2025.

Lefranc, N. & T. Worfolk (2013). Shrikes: A Guide to the Shrikes of the World. Christopher Helm, 192 pp.

Praveen J. & R. Jayapal (2025). Checklist of the birds of India (v9.1). http://www.indianbirds.in/india/. Accessed on 17.xi.2025.

Kesavan, R. (2025). eBird Checklist. https://ebird.org/checklist/S287440550. Accessed on 05.ii.2026.

Yosef, R., International Shrike Working Group & D.A. Christie (2020). Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio), version 1.0. In: del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D.A. Christie & E. de Juana (eds.). Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.rebshr1.01. Accessed on 17.xi.2025.

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Published

26-02-2026

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 2 (2026)

Section

Notes

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Kishore Muthu, Anand Shibu, Santhanakrishnan Babu

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