Lanius Colluriocollurio)) Atat Gambell,Gambell, Alaskaalaska
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FirstFirst NorthNorth AmericaAmerica RecordRecord ofof Red-backedRed-backed ShrikeShrike ((LaniusLanius colluriocollurio)) atat Gambell,Gambell, AlaskaAlaska PAUL E. LEHMAN • 11192 PORTOBELO DRIVE, SAN DIEGO, CA 92124 • LEHMAN.PAULVERIZON.NET PETER PYLE • THE INSTITUTE FOR BIRD POPULATIONS, P. O. BOX 1346, POINT REYES STATION, CA 94956 • PPYLEBIRDPOP.ORG NIAL MOORES • BIRDS KOREA, 1010, SAMIK TOWER 3DONG, NAMCHEON 2 DONG, BUSAN, REPUBLIC OF KOREA • NIAL.MOORESBIRDSKOREA.ORG JULIAN HOUGH • 80 SEA STREET, NEW HAVEN, CT 06519 • WWW.NATURESCAPEIMAGES.WORDPRESS.COM GARY H. ROSENBERG • P. O. BOX 91856, TUCSON, AZ 85752 • GHROSENBERGCOMCAST.NET Abstract and winters primarily in southern Africa. that provide exposed, rich soil, some degree We document the first record for Alaska and We speculate that it may have reached of protection from the wind, and (by late the Western Hemisphere of a Red-backed Gambell via misorientation in an approxi- summer and early autumn) a relatively lush Shrike (Lanius collurio), a first-fall bird pres- mately 180º opposite direction from normal growth of two species of Artemisia. Known ent at Gambell, St. Lawrence Island 3-22 migratory paths. A bird identified after an colloquially as wormwood or sage, this veg- October 2017. It was primarily in juvenile extensive review as a hybrid Red-backed × etation grows to a height of approximately a feathering but showed evidence that the Turkestan Shrike had occurred previously in half-meter or more. The food and cover pro- preformative body-feather molt had com- Mendocino County, California, in March–- vided by the middens are attractive to both menced. Based on details of structure and April 2015; but the Gambell shrike showed Asian and North American landbird migrants, plumage and following review of a series of no evidence of hybridization. including many vagrant species. Rosenberg images and specimens by those with experi- flushed a mid-size brownish passerine out of ence of potential confusion species, all other Introduction a digging pit immediately in front of him; the Old World shrikes—including Brown Shrike Herein we document the first North American bird then perched very close by on the rim (L. cristatus) and Turkestan Shrike (L. phoe- record of a Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collu- of the pit for a second or two before flush- nicuroides)—were eliminated from consider- rio), at Gambell, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, ing again and flying a long distance away. As ation, the former primarily by wing and tail 3–22 October 2017 (fig. 1). On 3 October, it departed, he yelled “Brown Shrike!” Bryer morphology and the latter by plumage fea- Sue Bryer, Paul Lehman, and Gary Rosenberg and Lehman turned to see the bird flying tures among juveniles. Red-backed were birding in the “far boneyard” away. It then perched for an extended period Shrike is a long-distance migrant at Gambell, St. Lawrence Island, of time on a fence some 100–125 yards dis- that breeds no closer to North Alaska. The several boneyards at tant. It indeed resembled a Brown Shrike (L. America than western Siberia Gambell are midden sites cristatus) in general features but was much Figure 1. The Gambell, Alaska, Red-backed Shrike photographed on 10 Oct 2017. Photo by © Sue Bryer. 252 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS REDBACKED SHRIKE IN ALASKA too far away to be studied in any detail with Brown Shrike, which would help confirm or showers to partly cloudy, calm to very windy, binoculars. Bryer and Rosenberg took photo- rule out that species from contention. Better- and the temperatures were between 1-6° C graphs, despite the great distance. The bird quality images were obtained and circulated. (34-44° F). Insect life was still relatively then flew even farther away, disappeared, Consensus built rapidly that this bird looked plentiful in the boneyards. However, begin- and could not be found again the remainder like a Red-backed Shrike. The images were ning on 19 October, the weather quickly be- of the day. Studying the maximally enlarged examined by Pyle and Moores. Based on their gan to deteriorate, with a prolonged, multi- photos confirmed that the bird had the gen- experience identifying a hybrid Red-backed day period of sub-freezing temperatures, eral appearance of a Brown Shrike, a species Shrike × Turkestan Shrike (L. phoenicuroides), strong winds, and frozen precipitation. which had been recorded at Gambell six a taxon also known as Red-tailed Shrike (Gill During this time, the shrike was observed by times previously. and Donsker 2017), in California (Pyle et al. Irrigoo mostly just perched in protected ar- Three days later, on 6 October, a shrike 2015), they believed that the Gambell bird’s eas, including on or in a bird-box erected on which was assumed to be the same indi- wing and tail morphology appeared to be out- the side of his house, where it was thought vidual was re-found in the village’s “near side of the range of Brown Shrike but typical that it might be roosting. It was last seen on boneyard,” a half-kilometer away from the of Red-backed Shrike. 22 October, during continued poor weather original sighting. The bird was very skittish, On 8 October, the Gambell shrike started conditions. Attempts by Irrigoo to find a car- not allowing close approach and quickly to “calm down” somewhat. Although it was cass, or even individual feathers, in the bird- flying off, low to the ground, for relatively still shy and wary, it would occasionally box or elsewhere nearby were unsuccessful. long distances before landing out of sight. pose fairly well, albeit briefly—perching on Some Brown Shrikes at Gambell in previous wormwood, bones, or on the ground. Both Description years were similarly wide-ranging, shy, and Bryer and Irrigoo were able to acquire an ex- During its relatively long stay, the Gambell furtive. Due to this bird’s behavior, the ob- tensive series of excellent photographs over shrike never became tame or confiding. Thus, servers’ in-field views with binoculars were the ensuing days (fig. 1-5). Lehman departed many of the finer details of its appearance frustratingly limited in quality and duration. the island on 12 October. Alaska birder Brad were gleaned from photos obtained, rather A few additional photos, still of marginal Benter arrived for a short, 24-hour visit on than from field observations. No vocalizations quality, were obtained by Gambell resident 19 October, and he supplemented the num- were heard, at least not with any certainty. and bird photographer Clarence Irrigoo Jr. ber of high-quality photos obtained (fig 6). Given the limited detail visible in the photos, During its stay, the shrike was observed • SIZE, SHAPE, AND SOFT PARTS: A as well as the “conventional wisdom” that on several occasions to drop to the ground shrike in overall shape, proportions, and Brown Shrike was the expected Asian shrike to feed on what presumably were insects. It bill (fig. 1-6), but small in comparison to to occur in western Alaska, it was logical to was not observed chasing any small passer- e.g., Northern Shrike (L. borealis). The head assume the bird was indeed a Brown Shrike. ines. During this period, weather conditions appeared somewhat rounded rather than On 8 October, Lehman circulated a single at Gambell ranged from overcast with light blocky. The bill appeared noticeably slighter photo of the shrike, taken by Irrigoo the previous day, as part of his on-going effort to share a variety of rarity photos taken at Gambell during the season. He received a message from Julian Hough of Connecticut and formerly of the United Kingdom: “That shrike, in that image, is quite Red-backed- like in color/tone and bill…. but [I] wouldn’t want to see [the bird] that briefly!” Lehman then asked the two bird photographers pres- ent at Gambell—Bryer and Irrigoo—to do all they could to take additional photos. Irrigoo was able to obtain such later in the day on 8 October. Upon detailed examination of the photos, Lehman believed that Hough was in- deed correct and that the bird had the poten- tial to be a Red-backed Shrike. Several of the best photos were dispatched to experts for ad- ditional comments. Hough and several others, including Moores, wrote back that the bird showed multiple characters of Red-backed Shrike. Hough took the best available photo and added annotations to it, which explained which characters he was using to arrive at that identification (fig. 2). He also urged Lehman Figure 2. This enlarged image of the Gambell shrike, taken on 8 October 2017, was the first higher quality photo obtained of to try and note whether the bird lacked the the bird. Upon receipt of this photo, Hough added the annotations seen here, explaining many of the reasons he believed the noticeably short and narrow outer rectrices of bird was, in fact, a Red-backed Shrike. Photo by © Clarence Irrigoo Jr. VOLUME 70 2019 • NUMBERS 3/4 253 REDBACKED SHRIKE IN ALASKA than in most Brown Shrikes, having a nar- ness varied with the views and from photo peared to include the lores, but at other times rower base and with the lower mandible to photo, they were always clearly present if the lores appeared mostly pale, though with appearing straight rather than convex, and the bird was seen well. The nape region was some darkening toward the bill base. showing an extensive dull yellowish or pink- contrastingly grayer, and without vermicula- Many of the scapulars and lesser and me- ish color to the base of both mandibles. The tions (fig 1, 4, and 6). This grayer, plainer dian wing-coverts showed thin pale tips and legs were pale gray.