Sighting of vagrant Red-backed Shrike 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.

    .

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

    .

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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