The brown shrike (Lanius cristatus) is closely related to the red-backed shrike. It has the distinctive black "bandit-mask" through the eye, and is found mainly in open scrub habitats, where it perches on the tops of thorny bushes in search of prey. It breeds across central and eastern Asia. It is migratory, wintering south to India, southeast Asia and Indonesia. The adult male's upper parts and crown are darkish brown, while females are less contrasted and have a greyer crown.
