Common Woodshrike
NameCommon Woodshrike
Common NameCommon Woodshrike
Scientific NameTephrodornis pondicerianus
FamilyTephrodornithidae
Wingspan (cm)19.5
Length (cm)14.5
Weight (g)12
Plumage DetailsThe Common Woodshrike has grey-brown upperparts, a prominent dark eye-stripe extending from the lores to behind the eye, and a contrasting pale supercilium. Its underparts are whitish to pale buff, and the wings are darker brown. The tail is relatively short.
Vocalization / CallIts call is a distinctive, often repeated, sharp 'chee-wit' or 'twee-twee-twee' and a churring alarm call. It also produces a pleasant, whistling song.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest, grassland
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeWidespread resident breeder across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, including India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
Identifying Featuresprominent dark eye-stripe, pale supercilium, grey-brown upperparts, whitish underparts, shrike-like appearance, short tail, distinctive 'chee-wit' call
Description
A small, shrike-like bird with a distinctive dark eye-stripe and pale underparts. It typically forages for insects in the canopy and undergrowth of open woodlands, often in small groups, moving deliberately through the foliage.
