Long-tailed Shrike

Changzhou, Jiangsu

mm, no wonder I couldn't identify it from your description - I was trying to think of some sort of laughing thrush or even a real thrush. This is a shrike, I'm thinking Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach although the tail doesn't look very long from this angle.

Thank you! In my defence: a) I am not very knowledgeable about birds, and b) my students told me it was a Chinese Hwamei, which put me on the wrong track entirely.
The ones round here seem to have a lot more red on their belly than many of the images online. Local variation I assume.

the species is widespread with much variation. Check out the photo taken in Hubei, at the top of this link, to compare with your bird: The Birding Nerd: China Trip Report - Summer 2010

It may be a guess but by the shape of the beak and the colouring of the under body and length of tail I would go for Red-backed Shrike - Lanius collurio

The head colouring of the grey crown goes straight into the black face mask with no white colouring between the two

I think it can't be Red-backed because of the colour of the wings. They were very black and white, which was especially clear in flight.

red-backed shrikes do not occur in Jiangsu.

I was only going by the picture I stand corrected

Chlidonias said:

mm, no wonder I couldn't identify it from your description - I was trying to think of some sort of laughing thrush or even a real thrush. This is a shrike, I'm thinking Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach although the tail doesn't look very long from this angle.

Click to expand...

Yes it is a long-tailed shrike

Thanks everyone. The first shrike I have ever seen wild! Or indeed anywhere. Interestingly Adrian I could have seen Red-backed Shrike in England but never did. If I had hopefully I would identified this one a little easier!
There don't seem to be many shrikes held in European collections. Are they hard to keep, or is the food impaling habit a little much for visitors?