Sri Lanka Woodshrike

INTRODUCTION:
The Sri Lanka Woodshrike is endemic to Sri Lanka where it occurs mainly in the dry zone, and rarely in some locations in the wet zone. Depending on the authors, it is sometimes considered a subspecies of the Common Woodshrike (Tephrodornis pondicerianus).
It usually frequents open wooded areas mainly in lowlands, but it may ascend the hills up to 1,200 metres of elevation. It feeds on insects and spiders caught among the vegetation.
This species nests in a well camouflaged structure, a neat cup attached to a branch or placed in a fork between two small branches. Both adults share the nesting duties.

The Sri Lanka Woodshrike is described as fairly common in the dry zone, but scarce and local in the wet zone. The species is not globally threatened at the moment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BIRD:
Biometrics:
Length: 13-14 cm

The Sri Lanka Woodshrike adult male has grey plumage. On the upperparts, head, mantle and back are grey/slate grey. The white rump contrasts strongly with the drab plumage and the black uppertail-coverts. On the ashy-brown upperwing, the flight-feathers are tinged grey on the outer edges. The tail is black, but the outermost rectrices are white with black broad tip.
The underparts are white, sometimes with some pale buff tinge on chin and breast.

The head is grey with conspicuous white supercilium extending to the ear-coverts. The male shows a blackish mask across the eyes, like that of the true shrikes, extending from the base of the upper mandible to the ear-coverts. Chin and throat are white.
The bill is black with slightly hooked tip and paler base of lower mandible.
The eyes are pale greenish-yellow to pale brown, with narrow, white, feathered eyering.
Legs and feet are bluish-grey.

The female (not displayed) is duller with browner upperparts, whereas underparts are tinged ashy-brown on chin, throat and breast.
The white supercilium is distinct but shorter than in male.
The eyes are darker, mostly greenish-brown.

The juvenile resembles adults. Some small, scattered white patches are visible on the grey upperparts. On the upperwing, the primary-coverts show pale brown edges.
The grey head is spotted/streaked white. The supercilium is reduced.
The bill is paler than in adults, mostly pinkish at the base and black towards the tip. The eyes are like in female.

RANGE:
The Sri Lanka Woodshrike is endemic to Sri Lanka where it occurs in the dry zone, and occasionally in the wet zone.

HABITAT:
The Sri Lanka Woodshrike is common in the lowlands of the dry zone, mainly on the dryer part on the eastern side, although it ascends the hills up to 1,200 metres of elevation. It frequents open wooded areas, clearings and roadsides.
It is scarce and local in the wet zone.
This species does not like the dense forests.

CALLS AND SONGS: SOUNDS BY XENO-CANTO
The Sri Lanka Woodshrike is usually noticed for its distinctive song described as “twee-twee-twee-twee, twy, twy, twy”. This series is rapidly uttered and descends progressively in pitch. This song is very pleasant, liquid and mournful.
While foraging together, the contact calls between each other are very soft.
We can also hear shorter, rising and falling, slurred versions of the song, starting sometimes with a rapid bubbling.
Another call is described as thick “chyup” repeated every few seconds, and also a short, low, subdued “fyew”.

BEHAVIOUR IN THE WILD:
The Sri Lanka Woodshrike is an arboreal species. It feeds on insects and spiders found in the vegetation.
While foraging in pairs or small family groups, the bird can be observed rolling its head to the side to peek into the vegetation in search of prey. Within the groups, the birds call very softly to each other.
It forages in scrub as well as large trees, flitting about and looking for insects.

The behaviour of the Sri Lanka Woodshrike during the breeding season is not well known and the displays are not described.
This species builds a neat cup-shaped structure well camouflaged by the nest materials including mosses, lichens and spider webs. The cup is attached to a branch or placed in small fork, about 3-5 metres above the ground. Both parents share the nesting duties.

The Sri Lanka Woodshrike is resident breeder endemic to Sri Lanka.
The species probably flies only over short distances and prefers open wooded areas where it can fly more easily.

REPRODUCTION OF THIS SPECIES:
The breeding season takes place between March and May.
The Sri Lanka Woodshrike builds a well camouflaged nest, a neat, cup-shaped structure covered on the outer part with spider webs. It is attached to the top of a horizontal branch with mosses and lichens, or sometimes placed in a fork between two smaller branches, about 3-5 metres above the ground.
The bird sitting in the nest is often very difficult to spot.

The female lays 2-3 buff or greenish-white eggs with darker blotches all over. The duration of the incubation is unknown for this species, but in the Common Woodshrike, it lasts about 15 days, shared by both parents.
The colour of the young birds of the Sri Lanka Woodshrike resembles lichen stuck on a branch, and they are very difficult to find. While being fed by the adults, they stay crouched in the nest until the parents approach to feed them.
No more information.

PROTECTION / THREATS / STATUS:
The Sri Lanka Woodshrike is described as fairly common in the dry zone of the island, but it is more scarce and local in the wet zone.
The species is protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance as amended by Act No. 22 of 2009. Wilpattu
The size of the population is unknown but it is suspected to be stable or slightly declining, despite degradation of forest habitats.
The Sri Lanka Woodshrike is currently evaluated as Least Concern.