Grey-backed Shrike

The grey-backed shrike is a long-tailed shrike 21 to 25cm long and weighing 39 to 54g. It breeds at high elevations in forest clearings, plateau plains and mountain meadows dotted with small trees or fairly large bushes, to at least 4,500m in Nepal, becoming common from 2,700m upwards. Juveniles are browner above than adults with a less marked brown facial mask (Wikipedia, general species account).

Nesting is between June and July in India, in bushes 0.7 to 3m above the ground. The territorial call is a harsh 'zzert-zzert' or 'tzert-tzert', and the breeding song is subdued and musical, with mimicry of other birds lasting several minutes. In winter it moves to valleys and plains, including gardens and abandoned cultivation. The account opened does not name Bhutan.