The Turkestan Shrike used to be considered a subspecies of the Isabelline (see link below)
but is now treated as a full species. Photos on this page taken by Alexandra Makhnina in Kazakhstan.
The Turkestan Shrike breeds in northern China, Mongolia, southeast Kazakhstan to the northern Himalayas and
winters in India/Arabia/East Africa.
Compared to the Isabelline, the Turkestan has darker, more rufous upper parts which contrast far more with the pale, sometimes
white, face, chest and belly. The supercilium is white. Scalloping on young is also darker with more contrast. The tail is always red.
Turkestan Shrike female.
Like the Isabelline, the Turkestan has a grey-crowned, grey-backed subspecies with red tail: L. i. karelini.
The Shrike and the Buzzard
This Turkestan Shrike had an encounter with a Buzzard.
Photos again thanks to Alexandra Makhnina.
Fortunately the buzzard was just passing through.