Tephrodornis pondicerianus
The Common Woodshrike, *Tephrodornis pondicerianus*, is a petite and unassuming passerine renowned for its distinctive calls and active foraging habits across South and Southeast Asia. Measuring typically 14-16 cm in length and weighing between 9-14 grams, this species is characterized by its dull greyish-brown upperparts, a prominent black mask extending through the eye, and a striking white supercilium above it, creating a masked appearance. Its underparts are a pale white to off-white, and...
Found primarily in dry deciduous forests, open woodlands, scrub, plantations, and large gardens, typically at elevations from sea level up to around 1,500 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, consuming a wide variety of insects such as caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers, and ants, which they glean from leaves, twigs, and bark.
Common Woodshrikes are diurnal, active foragers that spend their days gleaning insects from foliage and bark. They often occur in pairs or small family groups, frequently serving as the nuclear species in mixed-species foraging flocks, moving purposefully through the canopy. While generally resid...
The Common Woodshrike boasts a wide distribution across the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia, primarily as a resident species with minimal migratory movements. Its breeding range extends throughout most of India, excluding the highest Himalayas and arid western regions, and include...
Least Concern
- Despite their name, Common Woodshrikes are not true shrikes (family Laniidae) but belong to their own distinct family, Tephrodornithidae, established relatively recently. - They are often considered 'nuclear species' in mixed-species foraging flocks, meaning other bird species often follow them...