Isabelline Shrike
Isabelline (Lanius isabellinus )
The Isabelline (Lanius isabellinus ) is an Asian species of the family of the Strangler. There are three subspecies.
In Europe, the species is a rare Irrgast; Most evidence comes from the UK. Isabelline however, have been also observed at longer intervals several times in Central Europe.
Description
The Isabelline reaches a body length of 17.5 centimeters. The males weigh 30-38 grams; the females weigh between just 31 and 33 grams.
Dissemination
The distribution area of Isabellwürgers ranges from Kazakhstan and Iran to northern China and Mongolia. The habitat is steppe and desert zones of the Central and Eastern Palaearctic. The nominate Lanius isabellinus isabellinus comes from the Altai Mountains of Russia prior to northern China and Mongolia. The subspecies L. i phoenicuroides inhabited the region from Iran, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and western Pakistan, Uzbekistan to the south of Kazakhstan. The subspecies L. arenarius i occurs in a smaller area, which lies between the i phoenicuroides the nominate subspecies and the L..
The Isabelline breeds in steppe, desert and upland habitats at altitudes of 3,500 meters above sea level. He preferred here tamarisk and willow stocks of river banks, shrubbery the dry steppe and Saxaulbestände in the deserts and edges of copses at oases.
The Isabelline is a short to medium -distance migrants. The winter quarters are in the east of Africa, Iraq, and in northwest India. On the train and in the winter quarters he is also preferably in open habitats and thorn steppes, savannas and sometimes even in high mountains.